Alexei Khvostenko (Russian: Алексей Львович Хвостенко; 14 November 1940 – 30 November 2004) was a Russian avant-garde poet, singer-songwriter, artist and sculptor. Khvostenko is also frequently referred to by the nickname Khvost (Russian: Хвост), meaning "tail".
Alexei Khvostenko (Russian: Алексей Хвостенко)
Alexei Khvostenko at a concert in Moscow, in April 2004
In 1968 Khvostenko moved to Moscow and became an active figure in Russian underground literary circles, publishing his poetry and songs through samizdat.[3] Khvostenko became a prominent figure in the revival of the avant-garde movement in Soviet literature and art that became possible during Nikita Khrushchev's "thaw" after the death of Joseph Stalin. He is sometimes referred to as the "grandfather of Russian rock".[4] Khvostenko co-wrote (with Volokhonsky) the song "The Golden City" ("Город золотой") that later achieved iconic status in Russia when it was sung by Boris Grebenshchikov in the 1987 film "Assa".[5] Apart from literary works, Khvostenko was also an accomplished painter and sculptor (although his work was not officially exhibited), known for his innovative collages.[6]
Although he did not consider himself to be a political dissident, Khvostenko was regularly harassed and persecuted by the Soviet authorities, accused of social parasitism (тунея́дство), and at one point was put into a psychiatric hospital[7] (a tactic commonly employed by the Soviet authorities for punishing political dissidents). At the time Khvostenko was good friends with a prominent Russian poet Joseph Brodsky,[8] who was also persecuted by the Soviet authorities.
In 1977 Khvostenko was forced by the Soviet authorities to emigrate. He ended up settling in Paris. There Khvostenko, together with Vladimir Maramzin, launched a literary journal, "Echo" (Russian: "Эхо").[9][10] Khvostenko became a leading figure in the Russian literary community in France. His Paris studio space—an art squat on the corner of 14 rue Juliette Dodu and rue Sambre et Meuse, in the 10th Arrondissement of Paris—became "a kind of club, where many famous groups and singers performed".[11] While living in France, Khvostenko recorded a number of song albums, including several albums in the 1990s with the Russian rock group Auktyon (АукцЫон).[12][13] His songs became widely popular in Russia, particularly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
In 2004, after a personal appeal to President Vladimir Putin, Khvostenko regained his Russian citizenship.[11][14] Subsequently, he divided his time between Paris and Moscow. Alexei Khvostenko died of heart failure on 30 November 2004 in a Moscow hospital.[15]
A year after his death Alexei Khvostenko's friends published his collected literary works in an anthology called "Verpa" – a word "invented by Khvostenko to describe his literary credo".[7]
References
^K. K. Kuzminsky and G. L. Kovalev (editors), The Blue Lagoon Anthology of Modern Russian Poetry, Blue Lagoon, TX, vol. 2A, 1983, pp. 226–390 and vol. 2B, 1986, pp. 679–735.
^Maxim D. Shrayer (editor). An Anthology of Jewish-Russian Literature. M. E. Sharpe, Inc. January 2007. ISBN978-0-7656-0521-4; page 942.
^Singer Alexei Khvostenko receives Russian passport in Paris. February 17, 2005, at the Wayback MachinePravda.ru. January 22, 2004.Quote:Khvostenko, 63, is often referred to as "grandfather of Russian rock."
^Mikhail Epstein, Aleksandr Genis and Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover. Russian postmodernism: new perspectives on Post-Soviet Culture. Berghahn Books, New York, 1999. ISBN1-57181-028-5; page 482.
^Hilton Kramer.1917—The Russian Revolution—1967; Small Avant-Garde in Soviet Art Departs From Official Socialist Realist Style. The New York Times. October 13, 1967; page 24. Quote:"Though he has produced some respectable abstract paintings, his forte is collage, and he has been much influenced by Robert Rauschenberg and the earlier Dadaists. In his collages, images from magazines, newspapers, and other printed materials, either pasted or transferred to the page by the technique known as frottage, generate a sense of speed and disaster."
^Obituary. (in Russian) Ekho Moskvy, December 12, 2004. Retrieved December 21, 2008
^Mikhail Epstein, Aleksandr Genis and Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover. Russian postmodernism: new perspectives on Post-Soviet Culture. Berghahn Books, New York, 1999. ISBN1-57181-028-5; page 488.
^Arnold McMillin. Exiled Russian Writers of the Third Wave and the Emigre Press. The Modern Language Review, Vol. 84, No. 2 (Apr. 1989), pp. 406–413.
^ abSinger Alexei Khvostenko receives Russian passport in Paris. February 17, 2005, at the Wayback MachinePravda.ru. January 22, 2004.
^Birgit Beumers. Pop Culture Russia!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle. ABC-CLIO, Inc. June 2005. ISBN978-1-85109-459-2; page 224.
^Death of Russian Rock Postponed. Moscow Times. January 22, 1994.
^Interview with Alexei Khvostenko.(in Russian). Echo of Moscow, April 4, 2004.
"Никакое трагическое мироощущение мне не присуще..." The last interview with Alexei Khvostenko (in Russian). "Русский журнал. Рабочие тетради". November 22, 2004.
Alexei Khvostenko live in Moscow, a photo gallery from a Moscow concert
Видео-интервью с Алексеем Хвоcтенко (Нью-Йорк,1996 г.) на сайте Геннадия Кацова
(in English) English translation of ПОДОЗРИТЕЛЬ, The Suspector, a seminal minimalist serial poem in 50 parts published in samizdat in 1965
(in English) English translation of Дурное дерево, a seminal prose poem
(in English)
January 20, 2023
alexei, khvostenko, russian, Алексей, Львович, Хвостенко, november, 1940, november, 2004, russian, avant, garde, poet, singer, songwriter, artist, sculptor, khvostenko, also, frequently, referred, nickname, khvost, russian, Хвост, meaning, tail, russian, Алекс. Alexei Khvostenko Russian Aleksej Lvovich Hvostenko 14 November 1940 30 November 2004 was a Russian avant garde poet singer songwriter artist and sculptor Khvostenko is also frequently referred to by the nickname Khvost Russian Hvost meaning tail Alexei Khvostenko Russian Aleksej Hvostenko Alexei Khvostenko at a concert in Moscow in April 2004Background informationBirth nameAlexei L vovich KhvostenkoAlso known asKhvost Russian Hvost Born 1940 11 14 14 November 1940OriginSverdlovsk now Yekaterinburg Soviet UnionDied30 November 2004 2004 11 30 aged 64 Moscow RussiaGenresBardOccupation s Singer poet artist singer songwriter songwriterInstrument s Vocals guitarYears active1970 2004Biography EditAlexei Khvostenko was born on 14 November 1940 in Sverdlovsk now Yekaterinburg He soon moved to Leningrad now Saint Petersburg where he grew up He studied at the Leningrad State Institute of Theatre Music and Cinematography In 1963 he published through samizdat his first book Podozritel translates roughly as He who suspects While in Leningrad together with Anri Volokhonsky Khvostenko founded an avant garde literary group Verpa 1 2 In 1968 Khvostenko moved to Moscow and became an active figure in Russian underground literary circles publishing his poetry and songs through samizdat 3 Khvostenko became a prominent figure in the revival of the avant garde movement in Soviet literature and art that became possible during Nikita Khrushchev s thaw after the death of Joseph Stalin He is sometimes referred to as the grandfather of Russian rock 4 Khvostenko co wrote with Volokhonsky the song The Golden City Gorod zolotoj that later achieved iconic status in Russia when it was sung by Boris Grebenshchikov in the 1987 film Assa 5 Apart from literary works Khvostenko was also an accomplished painter and sculptor although his work was not officially exhibited known for his innovative collages 6 Although he did not consider himself to be a political dissident Khvostenko was regularly harassed and persecuted by the Soviet authorities accused of social parasitism tuneya dstvo and at one point was put into a psychiatric hospital 7 a tactic commonly employed by the Soviet authorities for punishing political dissidents At the time Khvostenko was good friends with a prominent Russian poet Joseph Brodsky 8 who was also persecuted by the Soviet authorities In 1977 Khvostenko was forced by the Soviet authorities to emigrate He ended up settling in Paris There Khvostenko together with Vladimir Maramzin launched a literary journal Echo Russian Eho 9 10 Khvostenko became a leading figure in the Russian literary community in France His Paris studio space an art squat on the corner of 14 rue Juliette Dodu and rue Sambre et Meuse in the 10th Arrondissement of Paris became a kind of club where many famous groups and singers performed 11 While living in France Khvostenko recorded a number of song albums including several albums in the 1990s with the Russian rock group Auktyon AukcYon 12 13 His songs became widely popular in Russia particularly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union In 2004 after a personal appeal to President Vladimir Putin Khvostenko regained his Russian citizenship 11 14 Subsequently he divided his time between Paris and Moscow Alexei Khvostenko died of heart failure on 30 November 2004 in a Moscow hospital 15 A year after his death Alexei Khvostenko s friends published his collected literary works in an anthology called Verpa a word invented by Khvostenko to describe his literary credo 7 References Edit K K Kuzminsky and G L Kovalev editors The Blue Lagoon Anthology of Modern Russian Poetry Blue Lagoon TX vol 2A 1983 pp 226 390 and vol 2B 1986 pp 679 735 Maxim D Shrayer editor An Anthology of Jewish Russian Literature M E Sharpe Inc January 2007 ISBN 978 0 7656 0521 4 page 942 by Dmitrij Severjuchin Vjaceslav Dolinin Samizdat Leningrada 1950 e 1980 e literaturnaja enciklopedija in Russian Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie Moscow 2003 ISBN 5 86793 216 8 Singer Alexei Khvostenko receives Russian passport in Paris Archived February 17 2005 at the Wayback Machine Pravda ru January 22 2004 Quote Khvostenko 63 is often referred to as grandfather of Russian rock Mikhail Epstein Aleksandr Genis and Slobodanka Vladiv Glover Russian postmodernism new perspectives on Post Soviet Culture Berghahn Books New York 1999 ISBN 1 57181 028 5 page 482 Hilton Kramer 1917 The Russian Revolution 1967 Small Avant Garde in Soviet Art Departs From Official Socialist Realist Style The New York Times October 13 1967 page 24 Quote Though he has produced some respectable abstract paintings his forte is collage and he has been much influenced by Robert Rauschenberg and the earlier Dadaists In his collages images from magazines newspapers and other printed materials either pasted or transferred to the page by the technique known as frottage generate a sense of speed and disaster a b Underground Man Archived April 9 2007 at the Wayback Machine Moscow Times October 28 2005 Obituary in Russian Ekho Moskvy December 12 2004 Retrieved December 21 2008 Mikhail Epstein Aleksandr Genis and Slobodanka Vladiv Glover Russian postmodernism new perspectives on Post Soviet Culture Berghahn Books New York 1999 ISBN 1 57181 028 5 page 488 Arnold McMillin Exiled Russian Writers of the Third Wave and the Emigre Press The Modern Language Review Vol 84 No 2 Apr 1989 pp 406 413 a b Singer Alexei Khvostenko receives Russian passport in Paris Archived February 17 2005 at the Wayback Machine Pravda ru January 22 2004 Birgit Beumers Pop Culture Russia Media Arts and Lifestyle ABC CLIO Inc June 2005 ISBN 978 1 85109 459 2 page 224 Death of Russian Rock Postponed Moscow Times January 22 1994 Interview with Alexei Khvostenko in Russian Echo of Moscow April 4 2004 Chernov s Choice Archived June 5 2011 at the Wayback Machine The St Petersburg Times December 3 2004 External links Edit Nikakoe tragicheskoe mirooshushenie mne ne prisushe The last interview with Alexei Khvostenko in Russian Russkij zhurnal Rabochie tetradi November 22 2004 Alexei Khvostenko live in Moscow a photo gallery from a Moscow concert Video intervyu s Alekseem Hvoctenko Nyu Jork 1996 g na sajte Gennadiya Kacova in English English translation of PODOZRITEL The Suspector a seminal minimalist serial poem in 50 parts published in samizdat in 1965 in English English translation of Durnoe derevo a seminal prose poem in English Includes translation of long poem Verpa Portraits of Friends 1965 67 146 149 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexei Khvostenko amp oldid 1084951893, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
