Evgeniy Salinder

By Tamara Kula

Unlike most children, with a new idea every week about what they will be when they grow up, Evgeniy Salinder always knew exactly what he would become. Whenever adults posed the famous question to young Salinder, his reply was automatic and steadfast: “An artist!”

Background

Salinder was born in 1981 in Salekhard, located on the edge of the Arctic circle in the Yamalo-Nenets region of northwest Siberia. Raised by his mother, Larisa Nikolaevna Salinder, he takes pride in being Nenets. His ancestors are known for their ability to excel in harsh conditions: hunting, herding of reindeer, and mastering the knife and axe to create narti (sleds) and tinzyan (lassos). “If a Nenets man completed any kind of work, he tried to make it not just good quality, but also beautiful,” Salinder said.

Starting Out

This appreciation of quality and beauty is innate in Salinder. He has loved to draw as long as he can remember, and his talents were encouraged by his mother and his mother's brother. His uncle, who  studied art at the famous Stroganova school in Moscow, gave Salinder more than just fond memories of his visits – he passed on stacks of art books to his nephew. Noticing his talent, his mother enrolled him in a local art studio at age 13, where he first experimented with wood and bone carving. Salinder was one of the oldest and most independent students there, and his teacher didn't hesitate to provide him the freedom to explore his own creative development. His self-guided approach to art has remained with him throughout his career. The studio successfully nurtured his artistic abilities; he earned the praise of his teacher and became an example for younger students. His artwork was sent off to various exhibitions throughout Russia.

Formal Training

In 1997, he entered Lapzuya, Salekhard's school for culture and art, where he studied as a master artist. Following that, he entered the St. Petersburg State University of Technology and Design, which he attended for four years until he realized he wasn't receiving the practical training he desired. Instead of mingling with graphic and fashion designers, he sought the company of other artists like himself in Salekhard, where he returned to teach and create.

Media and Themes

As a rule, Salinder uses media naturally found in the Yamalo-Nenets region: reindeer antler, mammoth tusk, moose antler, larch, birch, and cedar. These materials help create the themes he wants to portray in his works, which are in fact dedicated to his region. “The most important theme is that which is found in the process of working,” he said. “The actual theme is suggested by the material.” He loves finding bits of tossed-aside bone or wood that appear ugly at first glance. He then evaluates the pieces by color and texture. “I already see the form, like a deer antler and other material, given by nature. I just lead it to its final version.” Sometimes even he doesn't know at first what the final product will look like – a stylized figure or a complex composition.

Artistic Growth

Naturally, Salinder has absorbed much from his training into his current methods. For instance, it was in the studio that he was first introduced to volumetric sculpture – an art form that plays with solid and void properties. He incorporates these ideas in his sculptures today. And yet, some of his artistic foundations are unshakable. While still in school, he had no shame in creating figures without arms or eyes. “It seemed normal to use that manner of depicting people and animals,” he said. Even now, he affirms that it matters not if a figure has one arm or two. Also as a youth, he was fascinated watching his older peers create massive snow and ice sculptures. “At one time, I was literally obsessed with the sculpture of large forms.” He chose not to pursue the study of such sizable creations then, still so young and lacking in formal training. But now, when it's time for the winter holidays, he enjoys creating ephemeral wonders of ice and snow. Currently, he passes on his knowledge working with young artists in Salekhard. “I try to do my part to guide students, as I was in my time guided by my older friends.”

In the Works

Salinder looks ever forward. He doesn't have a favorite piece, because his previous work fades to the background as he focuses on new ideas. “I hope that my favorite, best sculptures are ahead of me,” he said. Currently, he is working on three small, nude sculptures – Nenets writhing against the scourge of mosquitos that causes so much discomfort in Yamal among people and reindeer alike. The figures' weather-beaten faces and hands markedly contrast with the pale skin of their bodies, which was protected by thick clothing during the winter months. Salinder's Sirtya figures have also received considerable attention. His unique bone carvings, only two to five inches tall, feature eye-catching designs of lines, concentric circles, piercing holes, leather laces and bone rings. The Sirtya people predated the Nenets culture, leaving behind little beyond mysterious stories and ancient archaeological findings. Though Sirtya have reached an almost legendary status, for Salinder they are more than that. “They're not legends, but history.” As a culture, Sirtya loved to decorate themselves, as they were often considered to be skilled blacksmiths and jewelers. Salinder said he barely realized what he was doing as he adorned his figures. “The first 100 figures I made with such pleasure that I didn't even notice,” he said. He likens the strips of leather and rings of bone to lassos, used for herding reindeer. In many cases, the strips graze the ground, creating a connection with the earth. “I want to express the entrance to their dugout homes.” Nenets have often referred to the ancient race as “people of the earth,” dwelling underground. The circular openings that pass through some of the bodies have prompted even more questions, he said; some people are even scared by them. Yet his intention was completely different – “The circle is one of the most ideal figures, and I decided the holes and circles would look harmonious.”

Life as an Artist

The drawbacks to being a master in the field of fine arts are many. Among them, Salinder cites feeling somehow different and separate, as it is difficult to explain a profession dedicated to working with one's hands in the 21^st century. Yet nothing can overshadow the joy his career brings him. Salinder says it best: “I can officially go to work every day with great desire, immerse myself in work that I love, and receive for that my salary.”