SOVIET UNION - EASTERN EUROPE ( CI SNEE 76-18)

Created: 10/9/1976

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Soviet Union-Eastern Europe

STAFF NOTES

SOVIET UNIONEASTERN EUROPE

This publication is prepared lor regional specialists in the Washingtonby the USSREastern Europe Division, Office of Currentwith occasional contributions Irom other offices within the Directorate of Intelligence. Commenls and queries are welcome. They should be directed to the authors of the individual articles.

CONTENTS October 9,6

Ernst Ueizvestny Lectures

at George

PUBLICATION OK INTEREST

Ernst Neizvestny Lectures at George"Washington

On Octobermigre Soviet sculptor Ernst Neizvestny spokeoorly publicized symposium at George Washington university on the Mcatacombs of Soviet culture.** Neizvestny seemed very much on guard, clearly wishing to avoid the political aspects of his topic ighly politicized artist/ however, he did not wholly'succeed. There follow some interpretive notes from this gathering.

Neizvestny is best known in the West for his altercation in2 with Khrushchev over the merits of abstract art and for the monument that he sculpted4 for Khrushchev's grave.He wished people knew more aboutther works he has created, many of which dot the Soviet landscape and adorn its publiche best of the lot are not publicly displayed, however, or were never purchased by the state. Neizvestny has managed to take most of the latter category out of the USSR, though much remains "stored" there to an embassy report, at the dacha of Khrushchev's sondetail Neizvestnyuring his career in the USSR, Neizvestny was never permitted to exhibit his4 probably becausereconciliation with Khrushchev and subsequent close tics with the fam-ily.

By his own count, Neizvestny tried sixty times in vain to visit the West to "fertilize" his art through contact with nondidactic ideas. Last year, he finally decided,-and indeed was part pushed, to emigrate "to Israel,"tep requiringof citizenship and thus exile. Neizvestny did not mention the tribulations heincluding KGB harassment and his numerous appeals to his various contacts in the Centralbefore he received an exit visa last March.

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The sculptor described himself not soissident as a "normal man" who would not accede to corruption of his conscience and his art asby the state. Neizvestny said he slid into independent thought and action early in his student days when heandful of others organizedstudy circles. The aim was to bringof the humanities and even some frivolity to those suffocated by the pompous diet of* communist doctrine and Marxist history that characterizeson-technical Soviet education.

Neizvestny repeatedly emphasized the gulf the "official" art of socialist realism and non-doctrinaire, "unofficial" art of all kinds. The latter is not all good, but it is imaginative, rich and flourishing in the "catacombs." Hehowever, that most artists serve both the state and their art, to the extent that the income from state-commissioned work enables them to do their "real" work.

To dramatize the sometimes bizarre aspects of Soviet official culture, Neizvestnyamphlet issued by the artists' union intendeduide for sculptors. Listed in hierarchical order were the .following examples of state-desired statuary, eachuggested list price:

full length, commanding the top price

--Marx,ittle cheaper

--Lenin, full length, cheaper still

--Lenin, bust, even less

--corresponding treatment of lesser lights in the communist pantheon, eacha somewhat lesser price, as do the following

of workers

worker alono

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of worker* and peasants

worker, one pcattant

peasant alone

playing with rod star

playing

Neizvestny added that needy artists naturally sought out ccranissions for full length Marxes or at least Lenins, being thus assured not only of money but of fane. He explained that such statues require unveiling by the top political- leader of the region or institution that commissioned the work. Since no such leader can unveil anything but the best, the work is always declared

Touching briefly on the competence of the regime's censors at the Central Committee level, Neizvostny referred somewhat favorably to the times of "Ilichev's ideologicalhose staff/ he thought, imple but clear grasp of what was permissible. Neizvestny seemed to imply that while current practice may at times result in more leniency, it is also more arbitrary and,culptor, unpredictability of this kind can be costly,

2 to about S party secretary forlichev alsoewly createdcommission attached to the Central Committee apparatus. Its task apparently uas to synthesize the related tasks of several Central Committee de-par tmen ts uhich the commission outranked. Khrushchev 9e fall, the commission apparently was dissolved, perhaps coincident vith Itichevemoval from the Secretariat in March The relevant Central Committee departments thereafter presumably resumed their earlier roles under the supervision of Ilichev's successor, Demiahev.

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PUBLICATION OF INTEREST

Directory of USSR Ministry of Defense andOfficials,. is an unclassified reference guideofficials of the Soviet Ministry ofArmed Forces. Itinistry ofchartisting of partyby military

October 9, 6

Original document.

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