Alexandra's way. The tragic fate of Sasha Putri: Memories of what did not happen, and the early departure of the Soviet artist-prodigy

December 2 Poltava artist Sasha Putra would have turned 37. “When I grow up,” she said, “I will certainly become an artist and will draw from morning to evening. Even at night". Sasha started drawing at the age of three and for her short life managed to create more than two thousand works - more than many adult artists. But the point, of course, is not the quantity: Sasha’s drawings, naive and wise, were a reflection of her pure soul.

Sasha Putrya. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Father's daughter

Sasha Putrya was born in 1977 in Poltava. Her father Evgeniy Vasilievich was an artist, mother Victoria Leonidovna- teacher at music school. IN kindergarten Sashenka didn’t go: her dad, who worked at home, was glad that his daughter also liked brushes and paints.

One of her first works was a portrait Alexandra Pushkina in the guise of a Cricket - having heard that the poet was called that at the Lyceum, Sasha laughed and in fifteen minutes sketched a surprisingly accurate drawing. "I was shocked. Such a resemblance! They won’t teach this in any institute,” her dad Evgeniy Putrya later said. One day, a father tried to suggest that his daughter study at art school, but heard a categorical refusal - the little artist did not need any lessons.

Father and daughter each spent hours drawing at their desks. Usually Sasha created while listening to music, and when she needed help, she would quietly put a note on the table: “Dad, come!” Sasha literally lived by creativity and often fell asleep, all smeared with paints and felt-tip pens. All the walls in the apartment were painted to the height she could reach with her hand. The girl made wonderful cards, embroidered, wrote poetry, sewed Stuffed Toys, burned wood and even came up with technical devices thanks to which, in her opinion, people could fly to the Moon.

Sirius. Sasha Putrya. 11 years. Frame youtube.com

Sasha did not copy anyone, she drew only from memory, she made portraits of her mother’s students, acquaintances and relatives. The heroes of her drawings often became animals, which Sasha loved to dress up in unprecedented clothes and give human qualities, give them names. At school she was the teachers' favorite, she read a lot - Mark Twain, Dumas, Hugo, Pushkin, Gogol. “Every evening, after the program “Time,” I went to bed with my mother and read until there were “moths” in my eyes,” recalled Sasha’s father.

Trouble has come

Sasha was five years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia. She suddenly fell ill, and for a long time doctors could not find out the cause of the excruciating pain and fever. I had to leave school, Sasha spent long weeks in hospitals, but even there she did not stop drawing. The girl’s parents could find out about her condition without words - if Sasha draws a lot, it means she’s a little better today. Despite serious illness, Sasha never allowed herself to be capricious and complain. She was loved for her kindness and bright character - wherever she appeared, laughter and fun reigned.

After the news of her illness, Sasha was given another six years of life, and each year was especially noted in her work. Sasha was interested in astrology, believed in other worlds, asked her parents about space and distant stars - she later reinterpreted all this in her drawings.

Sasha loved rare walks with her father, and one day they stopped near the ruins of the Pushkarevskaya Church. Sasha was inspired by the idea of ​​restoring the church and persuaded her father to send a letter to the USSR Cultural Foundation. The request reached the leadership, and money for the revival of the church was allocated from the budget, and Sasha herself painted a small icon of the Mother of God for the church.

In 1986, Sasha Putrya watched the film “Disco Dancer” for the first time and became seriously interested in the culture of India - she portrayed Indira Gandhi, boys and girls in traditional dress, themselves in the image of an adult Indian woman.

The Virgin Mary. Sasha Putrya. 10 years. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Became her idol actor Mithun Chakroborty, whose portrait she wore on her chest, near her heart. “We cherished her love and quietly rejoiced at her happiness. So they buried her with a portrait of Mithun,” recalled Sasha’s father. Much later, having met with the Indian Ambassador to Ukraine, Evgeniy Vasilyevich learned that in Hindi the word “Putri” means “daughter”.

On January 22, while in the hospital, Sasha asked her father to put his hand on a white sheet, first he traced it, and then his little hand. The artist painted the star Sirius on top - this was her last work. Sasha Putrya died on January 24, 1989, having said goodbye to her father: “Dad, forgive me... For everything...”.

After her death, Sasha’s drawings were seen by the whole world. From 1989 to 2005, 112 events took place in ten countries. personal exhibitions, five films were made about her documentaries. There is a children's room in Poltava art Gallery named after Sasha Putri, where they are held international competitions children's drawing.

The fates of children whose abilities were many times greater than those of their peers were, as a rule, not easy: only a few could become successful in adult life, and many of them died prematurely.

Young artist-prodigy Sasha Putrya and her work *Virgin Mary*, 1988

One of these prodigies was the Poltava artist Sasha Putrya, who managed to create more than 2,000 works in just 11 years of her life. The girl amazed those around her not only with her artistic talent, but also with her unusual perception of reality.

Sasha Putrya

She would have turned 41 this year. Sasha Putrya was born in 1977 in Poltava in the family of an artist and a music school teacher. The love for painting was passed on to her from her father - the girl did not go to kindergarten, drawing all day long with her father. She never attended art school, but began drawing at the age of three, dreaming of becoming an artist and doing what she loved “from morning to evening and even at night.”

Sasha Putrya. Left - *Dear Lerusinka*, 1988. Right - *David Guramishvili*, 1988

Sasha’s father Evgeniy said: “Her hands and face were always smeared with felt-tip pens or watercolor paints. Our entire apartment, bathroom, kitchen, toilet, closet doors are painted to the height she could reach with her hand. She generously gave her drawings to friends and relatives - on holidays and birthdays she congratulated her with cards that she drew herself, and she also wrote texts, often in poetry.”

Sasha Putrya. *Mom and Dad in the form of hamsters*, 1986

One of her first works was a portrait of Pushkin in the image of Cricket - one day she learned that the poet was called that at the Lyceum, and in just 15 minutes she made a sketch that amazed her father. "I was shocked. Such a resemblance! No institute will teach you this,”- he said. It wasn't the only talent girls - she not only painted, but also embroidered, wrote poetry, made postcards, sewed soft toys, did wood burning, and read a lot.

Sasha Putrya. *East and Rus'*

At the age of 5, the girl became seriously ill. For a long time, doctors could not establish the cause of the high temperature and severe pain, until they made a terrible diagnosis: leukemia. Since then, Sasha Putrya spent months in the hospital, where she continued to paint for 8-10 hours a day. Another passion of hers recent years became Indian culture- one day she saw Indian film, and from then on I began to be interested in everything that was connected with this country.

Drawings by Sasha Putri

She often portrayed herself as an adult Indian woman, and puzzled her loved ones with her memories of events that did not actually happen. So, she asked her mother if she remembered how they rode an elephant, which she never did before. real life didn't happen. At the same time, the girl described such details and details that her relatives doubted that she could see it in the movies. Your last birthday and New Year she celebrated in a sari, in the image of an Indian woman.

Sasha Putrya. Left - *Sadness*, right - *Tsar*

Doctors gave her only two months, but she lived another 6 years. Shortly before her death, she amazed her loved ones with these words: “If I have an exacerbation again, there is no need to treat me. Just don’t be offended or cry - I’m already tired. I know that death is not scary...” In one of her latest drawings, the 11-year-old artist depicted her hand on top of her father’s hand, pointing to the star Sirius - that’s where Sasha dreamed of going after life on Earth.

Sasha Putrya. Left - *Sirius*, 1989. Right - *Last self-portrait*, 1989

The mother of the child prodigy Victoria said: “Art gave Sasha 6 years of life. She was distracted from her problems, from her pain, and immersed herself in creativity. I even knew that if Sasha draws, then everything is fine. But if he neglects what he loves and doesn’t touch his brushes and pencils, then trouble is coming, an aggravation is approaching. Even by the colors of the paints she could determine her condition. If everything was fine, Sashenka used fresh colors in her drawings - green, blue, light green... When she painted in red, brown, I understood that I had to urgently run to the hospital and get tested.”

Sasha Putrya. *Ryzhka the dog's apartment*, 1986

Sasha Putrya. Left - *Evgeniy and Victoria*, 1987. Right - *Gypsy Zemfira*, 1985

The child prodigy artist was given only 11 years of life, during which she managed to create more than 2,000 works - 46 albums with drawings, cartoons and poems. After her death, Sasha’s drawings were seen by the whole world: from 1989 to 2005. 112 of her personal exhibitions were held in 10 countries. About this to an unusual girl 5 documentaries were shot, and in Poltava the Children's Art Gallery, which hosts international children's drawing competitions, bears her name. She was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Christ the Savior “For Life, worthy of a person", the Order of St. Nicholas the Pleasant "For the increase of good on earth" and the National Prize of the All-India Children's Association "Nehru Bal Samiti - Kalasari".

Young artist Sasha Putrya and her work *Indian*, 1988

Sasha Putrya - talented artist, famous all over the world.

“When I grow up, I will certainly become an artist and will draw from morning to evening. Even at night.”

During her short life, she created 2,279 works - 46 albums with drawings, cartoons and poems, embossing, embroidery, plasticine crafts, soft toys, products made from beads and multi-colored pebbles, wood burning. She even made technical drawings, which, in her opinion, were supposed to help adults reach the Moon and make asphalt roads without cracks. She died at the age of 11 from leukemia.
Sasha was born on December 2, 1977 in Poltava in creative family. Father Evgeny Vasilyevich is an artist by profession, mother Victoria Leonidovna is a choirmaster. WITH early childhood together with her older sister Lera, Sasha loved to listen classical music, learned to read early, knew many poems and fairy tales by heart, and began drawing at the age of three. Her father tried to instill in her artistic skills, but Sasha refused. Possessing a refined sense of beauty, she inspiredly created her unique world of images. Very cheerful and sociable, she changed beyond recognition when she painted. Her thoughtful gaze was directed into space, as if she saw something accessible only to her. According to the recollections of the artist, a friend of his father, he was once struck by Sasha’s gaze while drawing: such depth and unearthly mystery froze in her eyes... This secret shines in the huge eyes of her characters - people and animals. It generates high feelings, radiates light and joy, gives unforgettable moments of meeting with beauty and perfection. In her childishly simple drawings, the hand of a true master is visible, and one can feel a deep philosophical understanding of life. With her art, Sasha Putrya tried to change this world, to make it kinder and more beautiful; she was especially concerned about the fate of defenseless animals. The girl portrays them with love and tenderness, protecting them from human cruelty, hiding them in houses and a submarine. This is how a series of drawings was born: “Puppy Bimochka”, “Alpha Fashionista”, “Tsarevich Bear”, “Home for Homeless Animals” and others. Sasha had a special love for India. She fell in love with this country, its art and culture with all her heart, and devoted many of her works to this topic. Records with Indian songs appeared in the house. Sasha especially liked the film “Disco Dancer” with the famous Indian film actor Mithun Chakraborty, who became her real idol. During the last six years of her life, Sasha Putrya courageously fought against a fatal illness, maintaining patience and joy, optimism and great love to life, continued to create Beauty. Her drawings became even more colorful, and in her self-portraits, sadness and pain for this imperfect world appeared in her eyes. She was in a hurry, realizing that there was little time left. At this time, space, its infinity, stars and constellations appeared in her drawings. Sasha was sure that the Universe was alive and that people came to Earth from Space, and after death they returned back. Her latest composition is called "Sirius". It was there that Sashenka was going to live after leaving Earth.
From 1989 to 2005, she held 112 personal exhibitions in 10 countries. In Austria, a postal envelope and a stamp were issued with Sasha’s drawing, a series of her drawings were published, the proceeds from the sale of which were transferred to the purchase of disposable syringes for patients in the USSR.

Five documentaries have been made about Sasha, and a documentary story “Sasha Putrya” has been published.

On the wall of the kindergarten where she was raised, there is Memorial plaque, the Sasha Putri Museum is open.

A Children's Art Gallery named after Sasha Putri has been opened in Poltava, where, under the auspices of the Foundation for the Protection and Support of Talented Children, children's drawing competitions are held; Since 2005, these competitions have become international.

Awarded (posthumously):

Gold medal of Christ the Savior “For a life worthy of man”, 1998. Order of St. Nicholas the Pleasant “For the increase of goodness on earth”, 2000. An ancient icon in a silver frame “Christ Pantocrator”, 2001. National prize of the All-India Children's Association “Nehru Bal Samiti” - “Kalasari Award”, 2001

"Anna Karenina". Sasha Putrya, 8 years old

"Byzantine Prince"

"The girl Maria. She is still 11 years old"

"Jesus Christ Cries"

"Dear Lerusinka." 10 years

Oksana is Indian.

"The Virgin Mary". 10 years

"Sirius" - last drawing Sashi Putrya.

Her hand and dad's hand.

I believe this is Angel's soul

Touched us, the poor, fleetingly.

We are gaining our sight too slowly,

We part with sins reluctantly.

It's very difficult to reach us,

We see nothing but bread

And, lamenting, Heaven sends

Lamb into a pack of urban wolves.

Now the sad star is burning

A candle over a lonely grave...

Oh, Sashenka... This world will never

He did not accept either God or the Prophets.

These eyes...Eyes...eyes...eyes!..

From all sides, from all her portraits!

And a burning tear begins to boil -

I can’t find an answer to their question!

A silent reproach haunts me, -

How complacently I lived in the world!..

And meanwhile, the bells are ringing,

Children are leaving us under the gospel...

On December 2, 1977, Alexandra Putrya was born in Poltava - one of the most unusual artists in the history of fine art. Sasha’s mother, Victoria Leonidovna, was a choirmaster and taught at a music school. And father, Evgeniy Vasilyevich, - professional artist. The girl sat in his workshop all day long and, naturally, could not help but become interested in the “craft”. In addition, reproductions best artists The girl could see the world literally from the cradle - instead of wallpaper, one of the walls of the living room was covered with it. Sasha lived on Earth for only 11 years, but during this time she managed to create 2279 works: 46 albums with drawings, a great variety of crafts and even technical drawings, which, in her opinion, should have helped adults reach the Moon and make asphalt roads without cracks . For Sashenka, drawing was as natural as sleeping and eating; it often replaced her with friends and children’s games. “I was literally stunned by one of Sashenka’s very first works, which, unfortunately, has not survived,” recalls Evgeniy Vasilyevich. “Once we read the memoirs of Pushkin’s friends from the lyceum and learned that they called him Cricket among themselves. This made Sashenka laugh, and within fifteen minutes she drew the poet in the guise of a cricket. I was shocked. Such a resemblance! They won’t teach this in any institute." Already at the age of three, Sasha confidently held a pencil and brush in her hands. She painted incessantly and often fell asleep, all stained with paints. Her father turned a small bedroom into an art studio and tried to teach the girl an academic program, but encountered gentle rebuff. As an artist, Sasha developed independently, guided by her own impressions and imagination. ..Alas, you have to pay an unbearable price for real talent. At the age of five, the girl was given a terrible diagnosis: leukemia. After a two-month course of intensive therapy, her parents went with her to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. “Perhaps somewhere in heaven our prayers were heard, and our daughter was granted another six years of life. According to experts, it is almost impossible to live that long with leukemia,” says the father. Trying to ignore the pain, Sasha began to devote much more time to her favorite activity. At this time, funny animals and fairy tale characters came images from Hindu philosophy, as well amazing self-portraits - either in the form of the many-armed god Shiva, or even in the form of an adult Indian woman, whose eyes reflected deep sadness for our Earth. Every time she went to the hospital, the girl took books and everything she needed for drawing with her. My parents had special way communication: if the mother showed the father, who came to the hospital, new drawings, then everything was going well. If there were no drawings, it meant that the disease was advancing with new strength. Sasha fought for life for six years, after which she asked her parents to let her go. Shortly before she left, she asked dad to put his hand on the white sheet and circled it. Then she put her hand on top and did the same with it. The completed drawing was found after January 24, 1989, when the girl died. It depicted the star Sirius, to which Sashenka dreamed of flying. Since 1989, more than a hundred personal exhibitions of Sasha Putri have taken place in many countries around the world, several documentaries have been made about the girl and a documentary story has been written. A memorial plaque was installed on the wall of the kindergarten where she was raised and a museum was opened. The Sasha Children's Art Gallery operates in Poltava, where international children's drawing competitions are held under the auspices of the Foundation for the Protection and Support of Talented Children.

On January 22, 1989, already in the hospital, she drew her last job– “Self-portrait”. Children from her and neighboring wards surrounded the bedside table behind which she was drawing and vying with each other to order pictures. Sasha smiled and said: “I’ll draw, I’ll draw! I’ll draw for everyone!” And on the night of January 24 she died. In addition to drawings, which accumulated more than two thousand during six years of “work,” the girl created Greeting Cards, architectural and animalistic works, and wrote poetry for some of them. Sasha left behind a lot of embossings, wood-burned paintings, and plasticine works. She even made technical drawings that were supposed to help adults reach the Moon and make asphalt roads without cracks. Art critics are sure: if fate had allowed Alexandra Putri’s talent to fully develop, her name would today be on a par with the names of Yablonskaya and Aivazovsky. Exhibitions of the artist’s works are now being held all over the world: in Germany, India, Austria - from 1989 to 2005, 112 Alexandra exhibitions took place in 10 countries. Her creativity was also appreciated in the spiritual sphere. One day, when the girl and her dad were walking and stopped near the ruins of the Pushkarevskaya Church, Sasha suggested that her dad save the church by writing to “the most important boss.” In response to the letter, Kiev said that money for restoration would be allocated from the budget. In 1998, the church appreciated this act, posthumously awarding the artist the gold medal of Christ the Savior, and in 2000 - the Order of St. Nicholas the Pleasant “For the increase of good on earth.” “My daughter very often comes to me in my dreams. She’s always cheerful, cheerful, already matured. Whenever she’s bored, she comes. And she always assures that she’s fine THERE, asks not to worry about her. And this makes my soul feel calm and at ease ", says Evgeniy Vasilievich, confident that their connection has not been interrupted to this day.

Mixed repost from different sites.

Sasha Putrya was born in Poltava on December 2, 1977. Earthly path The girl's life was very short - 11 years old, but during this time she created almost 2,300 works, including about fifty albums with drawings, many crafts and even technical drawings with the help of which, according to Sasha, adults will be able to fly to the moon and cover roads with asphalt without cracks For a girl, drawing was as natural as sleeping or eating. She could draw 8-10 hours a day. Often favorite hobby replaced her childhood games and friends, especially during an exacerbation of the disease...

"Me and Vitya", 1983 ( approx. cousin, with whom Sasha was in love)

"Queen Cleopatra", 1984

The girl began drawing at the age of three. She almost always painted to music, recordings of songs, children's fairy tales, dramatizations, and musicals. She knew by heart almost all the hundred records that were in her music library. The baby's face and hands were constantly stained with paints or felt-tip pens. All the walls of the apartment and the doors of the closets were painted to the level that Sashenka’s pen could reach. The girl generously gave away her drawings to relatives and friends, drew cards for the holidays, and independently composed congratulatory texts and poems.

"Gypsy Zemfira", 1985

"Bimka in an envelope", 1985

Evgeny Putrya, Sasha’s father, tried to teach his daughter drawing according to the academic program, however, encountering delicate resistance, he did not insist. Artistic development The girls formed independently: Sasha was guided by her own imagination and impressions. Loved looking at books fine arts who were in home library- especially "Durer's Drawings" and "Durer and His Age". She also loved to review richly illustrated children's books. She liked the works of Bilibin, Vasnetsov, Narbut, she liked Hans Holbein, but Durer remained her favorite artist. Sasha was also interested in astrology and horoscopes, and she was especially interested in reports about UFOs. The girl believed that aliens were our ancestors coming to us, and that someday she would definitely meet them.

"Mom and Dad in the form of hamsters" (cartoon), 1985

"Girl from the Star", 1986

The girl loved animals very much. Her parents gave her a dog, then a cat to accompany her, and a little later her neighbors, knowing about her love for animals, gave her an aquarium with fish. And one autumn, a barely alive albino parrot huddled on the balcony, which they carefully took out and left to live with them.

"Dinner in the family of the dog Ryzhka", 1986

"Countess", 1986

Sashenka fell ill unexpectedly, suddenly. Doctors were unable to make a diagnosis for a long time, and when they announced it... leukemia. This happened in the 5th year of the baby’s life. The fact that she lived for another 6 years is a real miracle, which is based on a fantastic, incredible passion for drawing.

"The Musketeer d'Artagnan", 1986

"Eugene and Victoria", 1987

At the hospital, Sasha was loved by everyone: from the nanny to the head doctor. They loved her for her cheerful disposition, for her kindness, for the patience and fortitude with which the girl endured painful procedures. Children's laughter and fun were constantly heard in her room - children always gathered next to her. They surrounded the bedside table, behind which Sasha was drawing, and vying with each other asking to draw this or that picture. Every time she answered: “I’ll draw, I’ll draw! I’ll draw for everyone!” It was easy and pleasant to communicate with Sasha, during her short life she never offended anyone, she was affectionate with everyone.

"Constellation Aquarius", 1987

"The Proud Duchess", 1987

In 1986, the girl watched the film “Disco Dancer” with the participation of Mithun Chakraborty, the last strong love Sasha. The film did this to her. strong impression that the girl’s entire subsequent life was colored by interest in India, the culture of this country and its artists. Of course, the theme of Sasha’s drawings also changed - she began to draw more often portraits of Indian princes, dancers, the god Shiva, etc.

"Indian", 1988

"Dear Lerusinka" ( approx. sister), 1988

One day, shortly before her death, Sasha asked her dad to put his hand on a piece of paper and traced it. Then she circled her hand in the same way. The parents saw the completed drawing after she left on January 24, 1989. The drawing depicted Sirius - the star to which the girl dreamed of flying. Sashenka lived for 11 years, 1 month and 21 days...

"Virgin Mary", 1988

Mithun Chakraborty in the film Disco Dancer, 1988

"Indian Dancer", 1988

Last self-portrait, January 19, 1989

"Sirius", 1989
last track

You can see other drawings by Sasha Putrya