Everybody who is driving on the Tashkent ringway can see open metal work 3 meters high indicating to «Child Village» — «Kindersos». An author of this structure — Vladimir Pilipyuk. The sponsors — the Chamber of Commodity Producers and Businessmen of Mirzo-Ulugbeg district of Tashkent, a member of which is V. Pilipyuk, and Mirzo-Ulugbeg Khokimiyat supplying all required materials.
The art way of V. Pilipyuk was long and hard. The experience was accumulated step by step: first, in his native town of Antratsit in mining Donbas where he graduated from the college with speciality of placard artist, then he worked as a chemical engineer at the atomic submarine of the North Navy and finally — as a chemical engineer at the factory. He obtained rich experience living on the Chukotka Peninsula in the village of Cape Schmidt in Arctic where he worked at the smithy. For some time he had lived in Tumen. In 1980 he first visited Tashkent and six years later he moved here to live permanently. Working as a smith at Tashkent Tractor Factory he did his first attempts in art metal forging. He studied special works in this field and made some collections of rather original things. Candlesticks became his first works, which were given to managers and workers of the shop on jubilees.
In the 1990s, years of transition and market economy development, the works of the talented smith had drawn attention. Vladimir developed his first big project — a fence of pat’s corner — alpinary in Tashkent State Circle. The design he proposed was recognized the best and after approval of the architect, Airapetova Lyudmila Petrovna he received the order. Total square of steel lattices is 25 sq. m. Their height is more than 3 m. The lattices consist of two halves as if in bilateral symmetry. They are installed on the upper gallery of the second floor and separate offices from the general space of the circle.
The next big work was decoration of the memorial complex set in memoriam of dead militiamen in the inner yard of the head office of Tashkent GUVD. From 1999 up to now, Vladimir has been participating in restoration of Roman Catholic Church in Tashkent. He designed the interior and its organ section. Original lamps, window lattices in Gothic style, entry gate of crypt, door roof overhangs, handles and banisters have been already finished. Original are the ritual single candlestick, which candle is fired once a year — on Easter Sunday Day, and ritual seven-candle candelabrums. He has forged the inner clapper of the bell, which was granted by the Embassy of France in Uzbekistan.
Now V. Pilipuyk is working at two wall lamps, which expect to be installed in the organ hall. The wall lamps are being made according to ritual Christian symbols of oblation. Three wheatear symbolizing bread — Christ’s body as if are growing from the cut of a vine with three clusters of grape, from which is prepared the vine — Christ’s blood. Two materials — metal and coloured glass are combined in decoration of the wall lamps. Wheatear stalks, vine, leaves, beds of grains and grapes are forged from metal; filling is made of coloured glass — light for grains and green for grapes. The height of the composition is 1.5 m, the width — up to 35 cm.
The artist has already received the order on holy rood of 2 m in height for the church altar. The dream of the artist — to perform the fence of the organ section. However, it still remains just a dream as the work requires a lot of metal.
The Decree «Guarantees on freedom of business activity», the decrees of the President and the government became a basis for the system of efficient incentives to development of small and middle business in the Republic. That helped Vladimir to find his feet and strengthen his hand. Now Vladimir Pilipuyk is a businessman, a member of the Association of National Masters of Uzbekistan «Hunarmand». He has got his own studio supplied with everything required — sledge-hammer, anvil, forge-fire and tool set done with his own hands and stock of metallurgic coal. The master willingly speaks about his work — you could easily notice that this is his lifework. He has already had some apprentices, one of which works independently.
The work in metal is a laborious and complicated process. The master deals with the material, which temperature can reach several hundred degrees above zero. This requires as technological knowledge and high professional skills as strength, hardiness, endurance and at the same time feeling of the processes. Though the metal is inanimate element, its beauty and variety of features can find full realization just in skillful and devoted hands of a true master.
Each element of structure and ornamental motif is forged separately. Depending on technological methods of forging the metal can be specular, blue-steel, golden or greenish-grey. Oxides and films appearing at the metal processing give various tones and at the same time prevent corrosion. The smith craft has its own styles — Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Vladimir applies all of them depending on the task, however prefers Baroque. The master performs various floral motives typical of local masters of hammering. His works have especially exquisite forms, clear and original silhouette.
V. Pilipyuk often participate in different exhibitions. In 2002 his candelabrums in a form of rose bushes along with some other works were exposed at the exhibition «Gold hands of my people» held at the State Museum of History of the Temurids, which was organized by Republican foundations «Mahalla» and «Uzbekmusey». Many times he was a winner of district and city competitions «Tashabbus» for the title of best enterprise craftsman. Vladimir stamps his sign on all his works. More often, it is «777» having symbolic meaning for him.
Not just metal is interesting for the master. Vladimir Pilipyuk is one of the founders and sponsors of child dance group «Zajevie» («Sunrise») operating under patronage of the Polish cultural center «Svetlitsa Polska». In 2002, with a group of children he had a trip to Poland. He visited some cities and acquainted with local smith craft having in Poland stable and old traditions. He brought required literature, photos and video films. Pilipuyk has never stopped at achieved results; he permanently develops and improves his professional skills.
Author: Larisa Levteeva