The collection of the Taimyr Museum of Local Lore contains nine compositions made of mammoth tusk by Vladimir Taranets and three sketches of the Taimyr’s emblem. The author of the emblem and flag was born, raised and educated as an architect in Ukraine. At the age of 30, in 1983, Vladimir arrived in Dudinka where he was carried away by the bone-carving craft. Being the chief artist of the Taimyr Folk Art Center, he was one of the first leaders of the Mamontenok children’s art studio. He was later awarded the all-Russia medal For Useful for the training of future bone carving masters.
For 36 years of life in Taimyr, Vladimir Taranets made friends with many artists, but his main friend and colleague until his death in 2002 was the Taimyr genius Motyumyaku Turdagin. According to the museum specialists, the story of how Motyumyaku stole his future wife, whose father did not want to give his daughter to the poor Nganasan, inspired the younger comrade to create the composition On the Wings of Love.
However, the image of a couple in love flying on sledges was often found in Motyumyaku’s artistic works. But Turdagin made ink and pen drawings, and Taranets carved the composition from mammoth tusk. Both artists repeatedly returned to this topic, and Vladimir Taranets insisted that the owners of his Wings… will be surely happy in family life.
Taimyr grieved Vladimir Taranets last August. After his death in Dudinka sculptures and monuments remained. For example, the chapel at the Holy Vvedensky Church, dedicated to the victims of political repression, and the entrance sign of Dudinka.
In the Taimyr Museum of Local Lore, where the artist and his work were well known and loved, they recall that Vladimir, who over the years of his life in Taimyr was akin to the culture of indigenous peoples, jokingly presented himself not as Taranets, but TaraNENETS.
Read in the Artefacts: about antique brass sundial, pipes made of mammoth tusk, and other unique items from local museums.
Text: Valentina Vachaeva, Photo: Taimyr Museum of Local Lore
