Translated from Russian.

Professor Tatjana Jurjeva, the critic, director of the Center of arts.
"Change", on August, 28th, 1991, С.-Петербург

The blue-lilac worlds

In the Center of arts of name S.P.Djagilev - exhibition of paintings of the father and son Valius

" The exhibition is expected? " - Alexander Galich has asked, having seen Peter Valius's pictures in 1965. " After your concert in Luzniki", - the artist has gloomily grinned. Both understood severe absurdity of the existence in native Fatherland. The destiny did not spare them, more goodwill having concerned to us. To us they have left the songs, verses, pictures and an opportunity to pray for forgiveness sins before their light memory … Sins not absolutely ours, but we pray and we work.

Now, almost thirty years later, it is possible to tell: the exhibition not only is expected, it is open in Leningrad, in the Marble palace, in the center of arts of a name of S.P.Djagilev. Creations of Pjotr Adamovich Valius (1912 - 1971) and his son Valery come back to us after long wanderings not for a while, but for ever.

In Munich in Valery Valius's small apartment-studio I could not tear off a sight from the canvas "Crucifixion" written by Pjotr Valius in 1967. It seemed, that eyes of abandoned in a thorny wreath  pursue me. And only a picture hanging on another wall " Suzdal. Evening " (1965) - noted by flickering light of pink domes of churches, special refinement in game of color and rhythmic relations brought in soul necessary calm. I have got in an environment of original painting, the artist involved me with cleanly plastic means in the furious or harmonious world of the imagination. "Nike" (1965) soared above all  - powerfully and beautifully written, tragically appealing to people where green-pink wings on a black background contrast with her fragile stained with blood figure singed by ominous explosions  of a XX century.

These and many other works will be seen now by the spectator. They were rescueed by family of the artist, they were kept by the son, being on foreign land … Firstly the destiny preserved Pjotr Valius. The graduate of the Moscow architecturally-building institute, he has been sent to Central Asia. There was a 1937 (in camp have not sent). During war built defensive objects (the bullet has not overtaken). He happily married, son was born. Has returned to Moscow and began to be engaged in favourite business - painting. It was necessary to earn for a life, and he worked in theatre as decorator, then began to make book graphics. He have been accepted in the Union of artists in 1952 in section of graphics.

H} went to himself long. But there is a picture, symbolically named "Begin" (1963) when titanic forces have woken up in him in the unknown way. Something has inside broken …

Not a public person, he met the few, but dear people: Dodonov, Rabin, with family of Falk. He has devoted to Ahmatova flowers painted with destemper "Ahmatova's a bouquet" after a meeting with her in Komarovo, he has got acquainted with Granin there.

He had friends in Leningrad and he has  them now.

The symbolics, metaphoricalness, philosophical depth allowed him to express with picturesque means the attitude to  events. So the picture "Inquisition" was courageous reaction to process above Sinjavsky and Daniel and was painted in 1968. Dense, heavy color of red, green, black, personifying executioners-inquisitors, cannot force to obey the creator in a white attire. Three years  remained to live to the artist. Without exhibitions, without spectators, without a studio. He painted wie the prisoner talking aloud within the precincts of the chamber. But with what a captivating passionate force!

Valius, certainly, knew  art of the world. He was extremely the intelligent Russian person of the Lithuanian origin. But there, where is felt development of many-sided experience of Munch , Matiss, Kandinsky, the own voice of Valius clearly sounds.

His art possesses magnetic force. There is a secret in it. Secret of musical sounds. That  is perceived in the the most thin picturesque and substantial nuances of a picture "Artist" (1969 - 1971) - a hymn to color and spiritual riches of the world.

For half a year before death he became a studio in one of cellars. "Too late", - the artist has said. How generous his talent must be, what courage was required  to paint contrary to fatal illness. One of the last was his picture "Loss" (1971). In flaring scale of contrast sonorous tones are a muse mourning the artist and he himself leaving to the other world - blue-lilac. Speaking Dostoevsky's words, the artist possessed ability to ask the last questions. And then in pictures as the sign on already unearthly existence has appeared a lilac disk. A new planet to which his soul directed.

From 1971 to 1974 of a door of a cellar-studio  have been opened for visitors. Tens thousand inhabitant of Moscow could visit this not authorized exhibition. In 1975 general closing of studios has begun. Falk, Rozhdestvensky, Kuprin … Widow Valius - Anna Vitaljevna together with the son has taken out pictures of the husband and by that has rescued them. A studio was taken away. The son has decided to leave from the country and has taken away with himself the most part of paintings of the father. It has happened in 1977.

On all the unique Soviet stamp has been put: " Art value does not represent " (?!). Whether it is better this seal existing and to this day, to put directly on a forehead of ministerial officials?..

The person has died, the Master continued to live. And in the book written by Anna Valtseva-Valius "The happy person" and in numerous show halls of the European countries.

Son Valery met problems in emigration . "I was not free in a free world",  - these are his words. He began to paint pictures. His outlook is different - fiery ochre, dramatic. He uses a unique method of work. He makes photo of  visions, then paints or displays in graphics. He has inherited from the father much, but became other artist - sharp, dynamical, expressive. He made more than twenty exhibitions in different cities of the world.

It was infinitely difficult to him, but the collection of the father is kept. He did not wish to scatter it in the world, suggested German museums to take it entirely. It was difficult to satisfy such condition.

With changes in our life comprehension has come to return paintings to native land. The first exhibitions in Moscow, in Kazan, the first publications in the Soviet press testified to a recognition and the father, and him.

Name and pictures gradually came back in the spiritual environment. We only promoted their final returning at support of Independent Humanitarian Academy.

" The person suffers, but the person goes forward ", - American writer Norris wrote. The proof of our promotion became also opening of the given exhibition - for the sake of living
And died in oblivion.

We wait for you on an opening day, dear petersburgers-leningraders.