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Alexander Kastulin

Born in Russia in 1946, he graduated from the faculty of Fine Arts Odessa pedagogical university in Ukraine in 1970. Alexander Kastulin started working with clay in 1978. Since then, his works have been demonstrated at numerous international exhibitions and were awarded many times. Currently his works can be found in collections at the Odessa art museum, Ukraine and in private collections in Hungary, Bulgaria, Finland, Israel, U.S.A., and Japan. Since 1998 Alexander has been living and working in Toronto, Canada.

Alexander Kastulin creative search is aimed at perceiving the innermost possibilities of the language of ceramics. His artistic activity ranges from closeness to rational design to purely intuitive works, based on the subconsciousness. He’s attracted by various genres, including monumental and decorative panels and easel paintings. The manner of rending, the mood of his works shifts from lyricism to the seriousness reaching dramatic effect. Alexander Kastulin rejects the borders between different kinds of art, between painting, sculpture and drawing but he never forgets the specific character of ceramic art. While a sculpture’s work is born as if from within the mass of a heavy stone, the method of a ceramist is based on the understanding of the expressive possibilities of the surface. And it is the surface that the attention of the ceramist is concentrated on, this is where the “genetic” memory about it’s origin either from the clay rolled “layer”, or from the plate or the vessel (jug) is captured.

The artist is far from being a mechanic imitator of the nature’s forms. He creates a symbol being eager to embody his feelings with the help of a shape. A mood is created with the help of ceramic means: movement of a mass and combination of it’s parts in space, shades of paints, diversity of texture. “Ceramic must carry its specific information that cannot be obtained in a different way. The more information is in a work of art the less it fulfils its main task of expanding man’s knowledge.”

Alexander Kastulin works originate from the desire to express his feelings apropos of constantly changing people’s relations. They are born as if despite the will of the author, reflecting the creative demand to express his hidden deep emotions concerning people’s iterations. This work born from an artist’s subconsciousness more influences heart than thoughts of a spectator. The parts of the works are associated with sharp cutting and stabbing. Alexander Kastulin art tells us about the bright work of the artist’s associative thinking which helps him to find the exact shape of his feelings, thanks to mastering the complicated ceramics technique.

“Abstract things express what we merely do not see”, says the artist. “Such compositions born from subconsciousness demand great confidence, intuition and cutting of the conscious level. This method is difficult because you constantly have to control yourself in order not to let common sense into the process. When you work you don’t think about what you do. The hand itself knows what to cut from the clay mass. You only need to get the conscious level at the end of the work” admits the artist. “A work is born like a child. All the time you have to feel the tectonics of your creation. It can fall, sink, it can be wounded”.

When it comes to the colour in the work, Alexander Kastulin strong belief is that it is born in co-operation with fire. “I cannot make colours at will as a painter does, I only set a program. Fire is God. It is He who decides if there will be a work or not. Work with fire is close to magic. It demands great emotional and physical contribution. Only then will the work reflect the tension of your soul’s emotions.”

Alexander Kastulin works have some peculiar energetic fields. Through the complicated process the artist expresses his sensation of life with its troubles, beauty and uniqueness. This is the main reason why mass production ceramics will never replace the artist’s original art.

Education

Master Degree of Fine Arts. Odessa Pedagogical University 1965-1970, Odessa, Ukraine.
College of Arts 1959-1963, Odessa, Ukraine.

Achievements and awards

‘Best In Show’ award. Burlington Art Centre Sep 2003
Honorable Mention. 9th International Miniature Art Show, Kill Devil Hills, N.C. May 2001
‘Best In Show’ award. ‘Art at the Heart’. Zion Church Cultural Centre. Toronto, Ontario. Sep 2000
Distinction short list. International Miniature Art BiennialSalle Augustin-Chenier. Ville-Marie. Quebec.
May 2000 Third Place, Eight International Miniature Art Show. Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC. May 2000
Jurors’ award, SCA Annual Members’ Juried Show. The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario Oct 1999
First award at International Biennial of Antifigurativism. Odessa, Ukraine Aug 1997
Letter of Appreciation from Mayor of Ogaki, Japan. June 1997

Sales and events

Toronto Outdoor Exhibition Toronto, Ontario 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010
“Signatures” Art Show Toronto, Ontario 2002 Fusion’s Annual Potter and Glass Sale Toronto, Ontario 2001-2010
Toronto Potters Fall and Spring Sales Toronto, Ontario 2001-2009
Burlington Art Sale Event Burlington, Ontario 2003-2010 Potter’s Guild of Hamilton and Region Fall and Spring Sales Dundas, Ontario 2006-2013
Haliburton Art and Craft Festival Haliburton, Ontario 2009-2013
Kawartha Art Festival Fenelon Falls, Ontario Fenelon Falls, Ontario 2008,2009
Vineland Thanksgiving Artfest Vineland, Ontario 2007-2009 Milton Farm Spring Craft Show Milton, Ontario 2004–2005
Fairy Lake Artisans Festival Newmarket, Ontario 2004–2009
Cabbagetown Art and Crafts Toronto, Ontario 2001–2008
By Hand Toronto Toronto, Ontario 2002
Lions Art in the Park Uxbridge, Ontario 2004
Art by the Lake Show Oakville, Ontario 2000-2008 Fair November Guelph, Ontario 2007
Muskoka Arts and Craft Summer Show Bracebridge, Ontario 2004

Exhibitions

Solo exhibition at Carnegie Gallery Dundas, Ontario 2005
Praxis Gallery Toronto, Ontario 2005-2011
“In the Gallery”. Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery Solo Exhibition Toronto, Ontario 2002-2013
Toronto Potters. 11th Biennial Juried Exhibition Toronto, Ontario 2002-2010
27th International Miniature Art Show. The Miniature Art Society Dunedin, Florida 2002
Scarborough Art Councils’ 16th Annual Juried Art Show. Scarborough, Ontario 2001
9th International Miniature Art Show Kill Devil Hills, NC 2001
3rd Annual Art Exhibition. “Evidence of Things Unseen” Toronto, Ontario 2001
SCA Exhibition. Spring 2001 Toronto, Ontario 2001
26th International Miniature Art Show. The Miniature Art Society Dunedin, Florida 2001
Artlink Exhibition Fort Wayne, IN 2000
Solo exhibition. Newman Centre Toronto, Ontario 2000
‘Art at the Heart’. Zion Church Cultural Centre Toronto, Ontario 2000
7th Annual Juried Art Show. The Lakeshore Arts Toronto, Ontario 2000
The Fusion Fireworks 2000 Exhibition. Fusion Toronto, Ontario 2000
International Miniature Art Biennial. Salle Augustin-Chenier Ville-Marie, Quebec 2000
Eight International Miniature Art Show. Seaside Art Gallery Nags Head, NC 2000
Drawing 2000, John B. Aird Gallery Toronto, Ontario 2000
“Greater Midwest”, Central Missouri State University. Warrensburg, USA 2000
Beautiful ’2000, Point Gallery, University of NE Omaha. Omaha, USA 2000
Spiritual ’99, Point Gallery, University of NE Omaha. Omaha, USA 1999
Lakeshore Arts, 6th Annual Juried Art Show Toronto, Canada 1999
“Spring Into Action”, Scarborough Arts Council’s Art Show Toronto, Canada 1999
Scarborough Arts Council’s Annual Juried Art Show Toronto, Canada 1999
SCA Annual Members’ Juried Show, The arts and Letters Club. Toronto, Canada 1999
2nd Exhibition “The heart of Lakeshore” Toronto, Canada 1999
Exhibition in Gallery Hittite Toronto, Canada 1999
Segunda biennial de arte en ceramica. Mexico 1998
World Triennial Exhibition of Small Ceramics Zagreb, Croatia 1997
Biennial Internacional De Ceramica Artistica. Aveiro, Portugal 1997
Exhibition in Suitopia Center. Ogaki, Japan 1997
Salzbrand Keramik’96. Koblenz, Germany 1996

More info at: zoominfo-Alexander Kastulin

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