A Year in a Dungeon

In April 2013 the King of Marble Nikolai Shmatko moved his studio and his unique collection of marble sculptures from Zakarpatye to Pereyaslav-Khmelnitskiy hoping to find new opportunities for the development of his creative work. In the city of museums Nikolai Shmatko was going to realize his grandiose plans which he had matured half of his life. The city mayor of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitskiy came to know about them and suggested that the sculptor move to the city. "He invited me to come to Pereyaslav-Khmelnitskiy so that I could live and create here. He even called me a citizen of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitskiy. However, he did not keep his promises and disappeared while I was left alone with my problems in a basement where I was placed on my arrival", – said Nikolai Shmatko.

However, the sculptor did not sit idle. During the last year he made a large scope of work aimed at opening the author's art gallery "Shmatko & Sons" in Pereyaslav-Khmelnitskiy. The opening of the gallery of marble sculptures made by Nikolai Shmatko could extend the possibilities of the city in the sphere of tourism attracting the travelers not only from Ukraine but from all over the world. "During the year I made requests to the local and state authorities asking them to give me a plot of land on which I could build my studio and premises for the unique collection of sculptures, but the officials did not hear me. For the time being the result is zero. We observe today the land being given to build supermarkets, banks and offices but not cultural institutions. I suggest that the city give a plot of land not only for the construction of the gallery but also for the prospective constructions of "The square of Sun" and a musical theater", – says Nikolai Shmatko.

The art gallery "Shmatko & Sons" was founded in 1985 by the sculptor Nikolai Shmatko. At the present moment the art gallery has the largest collection of marble sculptures of one author in Ukraine. The constant exposition of the art gallery "Shmatko & Sons" represents more than 80 statues of Italian and Ural marble, 300 pictures (paintings and graphics) and architectural projects.

Pereyaslav-Khmelnitskiy, 07.05.2014 (photos of Rafael Shmatko)