Dmitri Plavinsky

This book is the first comprehensive monograph of the art of Dmitri Plavinsky — paintings, graphic art, objects, and installations from 1958 to 2000. It consists of three sections. The first section is made up of essays by John E. Bowlt, who introduces the artist; Alexander Jakimovich, who positions Plavinsky's art within the historical and philosophical context of contemporary art; and Elizaveta Plavinskaya-Mikhailova, who offers an in-depth discussion of the themes and techniques in Plavinsky's graphic art. The second section is a catalog of Plavinsky's work. In the third section, the artist presents his reflections on art, culture, and travels. The catalog portion is divided into seven chapters, the last of which, “Abomination of Desolation,” deals with the compulsory inculcation of atheism in the Soviet Union and, as a consequence of that governmental policy, the breakdown of moral principles and the way of life of the peasantry, as well as the destruction of the Russian village.