At a certain historical stage, Siberia was considered a wild land and a place of exile for criminals. These times have long sunk into oblivion. Today, Novosibirsk is a recognized cultural center. The artist Yuri Kataev made his contribution to the design of the external appearance of the capital of Siberia.
Starting conditions
Altai is marked on the map of the country as a region with a diverse landscape. Mountains and valleys, steppes and taiga open spaces create a unique environment for inspiration and creativity. Many famous writers, actors, directors and artists came out of these places, who increased the glory of the Russian Power. Here, on January 6, 1932, Yuri Kataev was born. The parents of the future artist lived in the industrial center of the Altai Territory, the city of Rubtsovsk. My father worked on the construction of a tractor factory. Mother was engaged in housework.
The boy grew up in the usual conditions for that time and did not stand out from his peers. From an early age, he helped his mother with the housework. A year after Yura went to school, the war began. Father went to the front. People who remained in the rear, at that time, also had a hard time. At school, Kataev studied well. I mastered all subjects on a solid "four". Most of all he liked drawing lessons.
Subsequently, Kataev recalled that he was very lucky with the teacher of drawing. An experienced teacher timely noticed the boy's abilities. And he began to pay more attention to him in the lessons. Then Yura began to come to additional classes on weekends. I had to draw with charcoal on a white canvas or a smooth board. Later, after the war ended, paper and watercolors appeared in the lessons. Every year, at school, an exhibition of children's drawings was organized during the winter holidays. Kataev’s works have always aroused the interest and approval of the audience.
When the time came to choose a profession, Kataev heeded the advice of a wise teacher and went to get a specialized education in the Alma-Ata art school. The program was reduced mainly to learning the technique of drawing with oil paints. For Yuri, this turned out to be a difficult process. I had to make an effort and endurance to master all the tricks. In 1951, he received a diploma and returned home. But decent work could not be found here. And then Kataev left for Leningrad, where he became a student at the Higher Art and Industrial School named after Mukhina.
On the Siberian land
Sibiryak chose the specialty "artistic metalworking". Kataev graduated from college in 1959, defending a diploma on the subject of “External design of a passenger car based on the Volga M-21.” At that time, the Siberian branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences was created with its center in Novosibirsk. Kataev received an invitation from the city Union of Artists, and he came to work in this famous city, came and stayed in Novosibirsk for life. It should be noted that Yuri’s classmates had already worked here. From the very first days he was involved in real projects. For almost ten years, Kataev was actively engaged in industrial Design and artistic design projects.
Some experts consider Kataev to a greater extent a monumental artist. A clear illustration of this promise can serve as a panel "Novosibirsk" above the entrance to the metro station "Garina-Mikhailovsky Square". According to his sketches, the interior design of the Theater of the Young Spectator was performed. The mosaic panel above the suburban ticket offices of the Novosibirsk station is also listed as an asset of the artist-designer. Here, in the waiting room, the relief "Siberian land" is installed, which has high artistic value.
Individual projects
Kataev’s professional career was successful due to the intensive development of the economy of the Siberian region. The creativity of the designer was appreciated by customers. The large-scale construction of the Baikal-Amur Railway attracted specialists of various profiles. Yuri Konstantinovich was offered to create a project for the complex design of the station at the station "Postyshevo". The work gained recognition and fame throughout the country. The next stage of cooperation with the Ministry of Railways was the design project for the Altai station. Then came the turn of the railway station in Pavlodar.
Yuri willingly took up diverse work. He was ordered interior designs of the Tu-144 passenger aircraft. Customer feedback has been positive. Similarly, the situation with the design of the concert hall in Novosibirsk. Then Kataev worked all year on the architectural and decorative design of the pioneer camp of the Sibtekstilmash plant. Many decorative figures Yuri Konstantinovich sculpted with his own hands, burned and installed. When working on the interior of the DC "Labor Reserves", students actively and willingly helped him.
