Maxim Piatrul

Maxim Piatrul
Maxim Piatrul
Born	December 16, 1977; Minsk, Belarusian SSR, USSR
Nationality	Belarusian
Citizenship	Soviet Union → Belarus
Education	Minsk Art School, European Humanities University
Known for	Sculptor, Designer
Style	Maximalism
Awards	- Medal and diploma of the First Degree of the XIV National Architecture Competition in the category “Monumental Sculpture in Urban Environment”;; - Medal and diploma of the first degree of the Belarusian Union of Architects (International Competition of Young Architects “Leonardo-2005”);; - Medal of the Culture Commission of the International Olympic Committee (XXIX Olympic Games, Beijing, China);; - Laureate of the Special Fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus for Young Cultural and Artistic Figures

Maxim Piatrul (born (1977-12-16)December 16, 1977) — Belarusian sculptor and designer^[1].

Biography

Born on December 16, 1977, in Minsk, in the family of Liudmila Piatrul, a Belarusian artist, educator, and writer.

Studied from 1989–1993 at the Belarusian Lyceum of Arts named after I. O. Akhremchik (now the Gymnasium-College of Arts named after I. O. Akhremchik), teachers L. N. Pavlova, L. G. Davidenko.

From 1993–1997 at the Minsk Art School named after A. K. Glebov under BelAI (now Minsk State Art College named after A. K. Glebov, sculpture department, teacher — Vladimir Zhbano.

2010–2015 — European Humanities University, Faculty of Theory and Practice of Contemporary Art, Bachelor of Arts.

Member of the public association “Belarusian Union of Artists” since 2005 (deputy chairman of the “Sculpture” section 2016–2019, member of the “Sculpture” section bureau since 2022) and the Belarusian Union of Designers since 2004 (member of the council since 2007, deputy chairman since 2025).

Chairman of the Youth Council of the Confederation of Creative Unions of the Republic of Belarus (2008–2010). Member of the Minsk City Artistic-Expert Council for Monumental-Decorative Art (2009–2019).

Works

He is an adherent of conceptual art, for which creative reinterpretation and exploration of the world is a provocative game, a dialogue with the viewer. Using expressive allegorical techniques, the sculptor transforms the artistic process into the creation and development of a fundamentally new plastic object, a new form. The artist strives for semantic coding of works, which manifests in unconventional solutions.

The principles of conceptual art in the artist’s work transform into a specific sculptural form, existing as if parallel to reality. Essentially, his works are the embodiment of concepts and categories that, for the viewer, are a semantic puzzle, a riddle. The sculptor’s works are perceived both as a formal sign, a surrealist object, and an artistic symbol.

Articles about Maxim Piatrul’s work are regularly published in the periodical press of the Republic of Belarus – in newspapers “Belarus Today”^[2], “Respublika,” “Vecherniy Minsk,” etc., in specialized press – in magazines “Mastatstva” and “Architecture and Construction,” in the newspaper “Kultura,” as well as periodic features about Maxim Piatrul’s work on Belarusian TV channels – “Belarus 1”, “Belarus 3”, “ONT”, “STV”, and “Mir,” on Belarusian radio and online portals, as well as documentary programs “Workshop” – “Maxim Piatrul. The Story of One Artist” (Belarus 3, 2018)^[3], “Belarusians” – “Maximalism and Minimalism in the Art of Sculpture: What’s the Difference? Sculptor Maxim Piatrul” (Belarus 24, 2022)^[4], “I’m an Artist – This Is How I See It” – “Maxim Piatrul” (Belarus 3, 2024)^[5].

Urban Sculpture

Author of visual art works integrated into the public space of the stations of the Minsk Metro “Grushevka” and “Malinovka”, “Frantishka Bogushevicha Square” and “Yubileynaya Square” designed by architect Vladimir Telepnev and architect Vyacheslav Lopato (“Yubileynaya Square”). At these stations, M. Piatrul’s artworks are implemented, and the stations themselves acquire an expository function, becoming exhibition platforms alternative to traditional exhibition spaces—museums, galleries, and art centers. The primary task of the works is not so much decorative as representational—presenting themselves as complete artistic works of “visual art for public spaces”^[6].

"Grushevka" (fragment), 2012, bronze, ceramics
"Grushevka", 2012, bronze, ceramics
"Malinovka" (fragment), 2014, copper, bronze, concrete, silkscreen
"Malinovka", 2014, copper, bronze, concrete, silkscreen
Belarusian Book, 2020, copper – Minsk metro station “Frantishka Bogushevicha Square”
Sun, 2020, stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum

Author of sculptures in Minsk parks:

In Victory Park – “Victory Fountain” (2010) – architect Anna Aksenova;
In 900th Anniversary of Minsk Park – “Fern Flower” (2006);
In “Northern Shore” Park – sculpture “Man” (2023) – architect Vyacheslav Lopato.

Author of the sculptural work “Angel” – a monument to donors (2021) – architect Vadim Drazhin, Transplantology and Surgery Center, Minsk, Belarus.^[7]

Author of the sculptural work “Counterbird (Bird)” (2022) – architect Vadim Drazhin, installed on Dzerzhinsky Avenue in Minsk and opened for the 955th anniversary of the city and the 45th anniversary of Moskovsky District of Minsk.

Author of the sculptural work “Birds” (2023) – architect Vadim Drazhin, installed at the office center on Pobediteley Avenue, opposite the Palace of Independence of the Republic of Belarus.

“Birds”. 2023, h = 400 cm, bronze, granite – Pobediteley Avenue, Minsk, Belarus (daytime general view)
“Counterbird” (Bird). 2022, h = 500 cm, bronze, granite – Dzerzhinsky Avenue, Minsk, Belarus (daytime central view)
“Angel” - Dedication to the Donor. 2021, h = 400 cm, bronze, dynamic lighting – Minsk Center for Surgery and Transplantology (nighttime general view)

Author of sculptural works installed in Chinese cities: Fuzhou “Elephantus” (2003), Kunming “Taiji” (2005), Changchun “Birds” (2009), “Counterbalance” (2011), “Creation” (2014), Zhengzhou “Counteranimal” (2018)^[8].

“Counteranimal”. 2018, granite, cast iron – Zhengzhou (Henan)
“Birds”. 2009, bronze, granite – Changchun (Jilin)
“Creation”. 2014, bronze, stainless steel – Changchun (Jilin)
“Taiji”. 2005, copper, stones, concrete – Kunming (Yunnan)
“Elephantus”. 2003, marble – Fuzhou (Fujian)
“Counterbalance” (2011), Changchun (Jilin)

Memorial Objects

Co-author of the Memorial Complex at the site of the concentration camp “Trostenets”, Blagovshchina tract, “The Last Path” (2018) – architect Leonid Levin, Memorial Complex “Krasny Bereg” (2007), – architect Leonid Levin, settlement Krasny Bereg, Gomel Region, Belarus (State Prize of the Republic of Belarus 2010).

Co-author of several memorial signs to victims of the Holocaust “Broken Hearth” - “To the Prisoners of the Minsk Ghetto” (2008) – architect Leonid Levin, as well as Memorial Signs in Bobruisk (2008) and Glusk (2010) – architect Galina Levina.

Author of the memorial sign to Maria Magdalena Radziwill (2021), Fribourg, Switzerland, and the memorial sign to Georgy (Yuri) Mitskevich (son of Yakub Kolas) at the Military Cemetery in Minsk (2022).

“The Last Path”. 2018 – “Trostenets” Memorial, Blagovshchina tract (daytime general view)
“Krasny Bereg” Memorial. 2007 – Krasny Bereg settlement, Gomel Region, Belarus (general view)
Sculptures based on children’s art “Kitty”, “Krasny Bereg” Memorial. 2007 – Krasny Bereg settlement, Gomel Region, Belarus

Awards

Diploma recipient of the Special Fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus (2005)
Laureate of the Special Fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus (2006)
Gratitude from the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus (2016)
Certificate of Honor from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus (2019)
Awarded the medal of the “Culture and Education Commission” of the International Olympic Committee. Beijing, China (2008).
Awarded diplomas of the winner of the competitions of the “Belarusian Union of Artists” (2002, 2004) and “Belarusian Union of Architects” (2005, 2009, 2019).
Recognized with awards and diplomas from the Minsk City Executive Committee Culture Department, the Chinese Sculpture Association, the Chinese Urban Sculpture Association, the Chinese National Committee for Urban Sculpture, the Chinese Association of City Mayors, the mayor of the city of Murmansk (Russia), the mayor of the city of Chimishliya (Moldova), the Cultural Center for Educational Development Gyumri (Armenia).

In the workshop of sculptor Maxim Piatrul 11.02.2015

Location of the Author’s Works

Reinhold Würth Collection, Künzelsau, Germany;
Olympic Art Collection, Beijing, China;
Sculpture Gallery in Qingdao – National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China;
Sculpture Museum, Hualien, Taiwan;
National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus;
National Center for Contemporary Arts of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus;
Art Gallery – Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve, Polotsk, Belarus;
Art-Belarus collection, Minsk, Belarus.

Also in private collections in Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, China, and the USA.

Sculptural Compositions and Monumental-Memorial Objects in Belarus

“Broken Hearth”. 2008, bronze, granite. Sukhaya Street, Minsk.

“Angel” (Dedication to the Donor) 2021, Transplantology, Hematology, and Surgery Center. Minsk (architect Vadim Drazhin)
“Broken Hearth” 2008. Jewish Memorial Square – memorial in memory of the Minsk Ghetto, (architect Leonid Levin)
“Victory Fountain” 2010. “Victory Park”. Minsk (architect Anna Aksenova)
“Fern Flower” 2006, Minsk 900th Anniversary Park
“Krasny Bereg” Memorial (co-authored) 2007 – Monument to Children – Victims of the Great Patriotic War, Krasny Bereg, (chief architect Leonid Levin)
“The Last Path” (co-authored) 2018 – “Trostenets” Memorial Complex, Blagovshchina tract (chief architect Leonid Levin)
Memorial Sign “To the Prisoners of the Bobruisk Ghetto” 2008. Bobruisk (architect Galina Levina)
Memorial Sign to Holocaust Victims 2010. Myslochanskaya Hill, Glusk (architect Galina Levina)

Exhibition Activities

Author of solo exhibitions:

2007 — “60 & 30” (together with Liudmila Piatrul), National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus
05.12.2014—31.01.2015 — “The Story of One Story” (together with Liudmila Piatrul), art gallery Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve^[9]
2015 — “Untitled”. Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in the Republic of Belarus
2016 — “Untitled”. “Labyrinth” Gallery. National Library of Belarus. Minsk, Belarus
2016 — “5=3”. (vol.1) “Artport” Gallery. Minsk, Belarus
2017 — “5=3”. (vol.2) “Artport” Gallery. Minsk, Belarus
2017 — “Evolution +”. Museum of Contemporary Fine Arts (now National Center for Contemporary Arts of the Republic of Belarus). Minsk, Belarus
2018 — “25th Frame”. “Art-Belarus” Gallery. Minsk, Belarus
2018 – “Manifesto of Maximalism”. “Art-Belarus” Gallery. Minsk, Belarus
2020—2021 — “Maximalism”. National Center for Contemporary Arts of the Republic of Belarus. Minsk, Belarus
2021—2022 — “de(re)Construction”. National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Nesvizh”
2023 — “Parallels”. State Literary-Memorial Museum of Yakub Kolas. Minsk, Belarus
2023-2024 — “4x4”. National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Nesvizh”
2024 – “Dialogue” (together with Liudmila Piatrul), “Mara” Gallery. Nesvizh, Belarus

Participant in international, republican, and city art exhibitions and competitions:

Beijing International Art Biennale (2008, 2015, 2017), National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China.
Belarusian Pavilion at the Paris International Exhibition Salon (2015), Grand Palais, Paris, France.
Exhibition “Return of the Image” for the 130th anniversary of Marc Chagall (2017), Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.
9th Tashkent International Biennale of Contemporary Art (2022),
19th International Asian Art Biennale in Bangladesh (2022).
International exhibition project “Personal Structures. Reflections”, Palazzo Mora, 59th Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art, Venice, Italy (2022).