Nikolai Rybakov: Painting as a Way of Learning
In the article, visual art is considered as a means of fixing the manifestations of the spiritual principle and materialization in the works of universal values. The creative process is defined as a way of knowing and searching for the truth, exploring both subjective and objective reality. As an experimental material, the paintings of Nikolai Iosifovich Rybakov were chosen. The artist’s work is distinguished by the search for ways to restore harmony between man and nature, society and himself. The basis of N. I. Rybakov’s works consists of both forms of protoculture and images of the author’s inner subjective reality. The article reveals the reasons for the interest of modern artists in the national and ancient culture of the peoples of Siberia, analyzes the understanding of the neo-Archaic artists of the heritage of ancient civilizations. It is suggested that the appeal of the creative intelligentsia to the national and ancient culture is associated with the change of social formations, the growth of self-consciousness and the need for new ways of searching for truth. It is shown that N. I. Rybakov uses both archetypes and images of the author’s sign system, which is based on the cult symbolism of the peoples of Siberia. The features of Rybakov’s art also include the use of non-figurative images to give reality the quality of otherness.