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«The Elite does not go for sale». By Natalya Galimova. Moskovsky Komsomolets No. 264 dated November 21st 2005.

Representatives of the Russian political elite were brought to the hammer in Saturday.The prices were high.
Representatives of the Russian political elite were brought to the hammer in Saturday. The prices were high. Although, cognition comes through comparison by all means: no one gave even $1300 for Viktor Chernomyrdin, but as for the President – buyers planked down $35.000 without batting an eyelid. There was also a chance to make knight’s move and to purchase the whole Russian establishment on wholesale. The main lot of the auction, organized by an art gallery of Moscow, became the work “Session of the Federal Assembly”, which cost one million dollars. Though, no one found out any spare million in his pocket. During the auction the paintings of two Moscow artists: Sergey Kalinin and Farid Bogdalov, were exposed. The most epochal canvas created by them is – “Session of the Federal Assembly”, was intended to celebrate 100-th anniversary of Repin work “Ceremonial Sitting of the State council on May 7th 1901”. And they created such a picture! But Bogdalov and Kalinin’s canvas exposes not only the representatives of the Federal Assembly, but the most authoritative people of the country at present – the total number of them is 77. The consequence of the characters, by the way, had been determined via Internet voting. In order to make the characters look like alive on the picture (and on their portraits) the authors decided to conduct photo session. Among those agreed to participate in the session were patriarch Aleksy II, the then Head of the RF President Administration Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy of State Duma Gennady Seleznyov. “Gorbachyov refused to participate in the session, Yeltsin and Zuganov have not replied to our letters”. – said Sergey Kalinin in his interview to “MK”. “And what about Putin?” – I rubbernecked. “It is a secret”. We’ve received a letter from the President’s Press Service, with a notice given on a trust-based principles, that “V.V. Putin has a negative attitude towards usage of his images in similar projects”. This letter was auctioned off, but was withdrawn at the Kremlin’s request. On the other hand, the other two letters – the rejection from the Government House to display the work and the rejection from Yury Luzhkov to participate in the photo session (“owing to pressing engagements during the period of the election campaign) were “pushed” for $300 each. Vladimir Putin was three times announced during the bids. Purchase of the first portrait was made according the absent bid for $3 000. It was VVP in the tunic with an expression on his countenance, resembling an offended child. Although, Artemy Troitsky, who led the auction, proposed another association “Here the President resembles me Prince Charles”, - he declared. The portrait was sold for $3300. Another image of Putin – the first picturesque sketch of the project – was very funny. I’m not going to describe it – I will run out of words. This lot went off for 35 thousand dollars. Putin number three – the portrait can easily be called “Putin felt sad” – was sold for 24 thousand bucks. The image of Khodorkovsky was promptly sold as well. “Khodorkovsky will not be able to pose for professional artists for quite a long period yet, and just due to such fact, the painting is worth buying”, - as Mr. Troitsky made a pitch for the prisoner. And he did it, though increasing the price for 100 dollars – the portrait offered for $1400 went off for one and a half. As for Abramovich – oh, such a pity! – he turned out to be unclaimed. Nobody wanted to part with one and a half grand for the “Chelsea” owner for anything in the world. “Well, let’s try to put Abramovich down”, - offered the auctioneer with such a great pleasure. And that was done: the price for the portrait was broken down to $1400. Finally, the oligarch was sold for $1900. As for the other notable Russians, their portraits went off at the following sums (prices are specified in dollars): Viktor Vekselberg, presented to the public as “famous master of incubation”, - for 2000, Yastrzhembsky – for 2400, Valentina Matviencko – one portrait for 1900, the second one – for 24 thousand, Gryzlov – 2600 and 26 000, Khakamada – 3000, Sergey Ivanov – 25 000, patriarch Aleksy II – 22 000. No one wished to buy Yavlinsky, Chernomyrdin, Potanin, the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Region Mr. Khloponin (the portrait was offered for sale at 6 thousand dollars. Though, in Krasnoyarsk there will be a session of “Yedinaya Rossiya”, and the party members could make a pleasure to their team-mate), Luzhkov ($28 000), Borodin ($24 000) and Pochinock ($26 000). Although, Pochinock was nice – double-headed, but most likely resembling a guest from Chernobyl, rather than an eagle… Special attention was drawn by two buyers – men of eastern appearance, which purchased the works on wholesale. One of them bought up portraits (including Putin) for 32,5 thousand dollars. The second one – for 60 thousand dollars. VIP-buyers refused to give interviews to journalists… None of the visitors allowed themselves to purchase the top-lot – the canvas “Session of the Federal Assembly” at the price of one million dollars. At the same time there was a backroom talk, that initially the authors wanted to display the canvas for 500 000 dollars, but when they understood, that no one will loosen up for such a sum, they requested a million.