When critics begin to discuss the works of Andrei Bartenev, they often cannot give a specific definition of the genre in which he works. And no wonder. The maestro himself presents art as a single stream containing a variety of forms.
Starting conditions
To find a fulcrum for describing the work of Andrei Dmitrievich Bartenev, one must agree that he is an artist. Both domestic and foreign experts agree with this definition. Yes, he creates paintings. But for this he uses not canvases and paints, but people and surrounding landscapes. The basis for the painting can be green lawns in parks or rough industrial structures made of concrete and metal. Installations of this kind make viewers wonder and resent. Often the artist deliberately shocks a half-asleep audience. In this he sees one of his tasks.
The future director and fashion designer was born on October 9, 1965 in an ordinary Soviet family. Parents at that time lived in the polar city of Norilsk. My father worked at a metallurgical plant. The mother was engaged in the upbringing of children in kindergarten. At an early age, the child was no different from his peers. Andrei studied well at school. With great eagerness he attended labor lessons in workshops. I always cut shapes and profiles out of plywood. Glued bulky objects from wrapping paper. In high school, Bartenev went to pioneer camps for the summer as a counselor or teacher.
Creative activity
After school, Andrei left for Krasnoyarsk to get a specialized education at the directing department of the Institute of Arts. As a student, he found friends and associates among his classmates. At the end of the 80s, censorship was already abolished, and young talents felt the heady smell of freedom. He created his first installations from glass jars and plastic bottles. Bartenev managed to mount the backlight from New Year's garlands and LEDs. After a while, rumors about the work of the novice director spread throughout the cities and villages.
After moving to Moscow, Bartenev found himself in a favorable environment from the first days. He was surrounded by colleagues and connoisseurs of avant-garde art. In 1992, the artist staged his first large-scale performance entitled Botanical Ballet. At the traditional Riga festival, the performance received the main prize. The next stage in the director's career was the dynamic performance The Snow Queen. Foreign art critics have already started talking about this project. In 1996, Bartenev was admitted to the Union of Artists of Moscow.
Recognition and privacy
The famous stage director and designer does not sit in one place. As part of his career, he has directed performances in the United States and in European countries. Bartenev is regularly invited to speak to students of art history educational institutions in Russia and abroad.
Almost nothing is known about the personal life of Andrei Dmitrievich. According to official data, he remains free. He has no wife, but he has boundless love for art.
