Vvedensky Alexander Ivanovich (1904 - 1941), the poet.
He was born on November 23, in St. Petersburg in the family of economist. He studied in gymnasia and then at school named after L.Lentovsky. He finished
that school in 1921, but did not passed examination in the Russian literature. Vvedensky started to write at school. In that period his favourite poet was A. Blok. In 1920s Vvedensky was under the strong influence of futurism. He especially valued poetry of Kruchenykh.
After the graduation from school Vvedensky became a student of law department of Petrograd University and then the student of Chinese branch of the East
department, but soon he dropped off.
He worked as a clerk, then in 1921-22 at power station "Krasny Oktyabr".
But all Vvedensky was interested in was the literature. These years the poet widened his circle of poetic, literary ties and contacts in the world of
art. Vvedensky was seen at Klyuev's, visited Kuzmin and became a close friend to Harms. In 1925 they were published in the imaginist collection "Unusual Meetings of Friends", became members of the Leningrad Union of Poets, participated in collections "Collected Poems" and participated in
the group Zaumniky (this activity was neither fruitful, nor long).
They tried to unite "all left forces", and in 1927 they formed a literary-theatrical group under name "OBERIU" (Association of Real Art), which staged performances-concerts frequently were accompanied with scandals (inscriptions were such: "Art Is Not Scales", "We Are Not Pies"
etc.). They proclaimed themselves "not only the new poetic language creators, but also founders of new sensation of life and subjects". They worked until 1930 when they were banned.
Since 1928 Vvedensky worked as the children's writer and contributed to magazines "Yozh" and "Chizh".
By 1931 almost all members of "OBERIU" were arrested. Vvedensky was taken from a train on December 10. They were accused in distraction of people from construction of socialism with their "abstruse poetry". Vvedensky was accused in "sabotage in the children's literature". In March 21, 1932 he was released, but he was banned from residing in 16 cities of the USSR for the period of 3 years. Vvedensky settled in Kursk, then moved to Vologda, and finished his exile in 1933 in Borisoglebsk.
On return to Leningrad Vvedensky became a member of the Writers Union.
During 1933-1934 he wrote his best poetry: "I Regret, That I Am Not An Animal", "Invitation To Me To Think", "Four Descriptions" etc. In 1936,while in Kharkov, he got married and then together with the wife went to Caucasus, then he returned to Kharkov where he settled, sometimes visiting both capitals.
Vvedensky worked in the children's literature, earned his living by writing the clown reprises, couplets and miniatures. In 1939 he wrote the play "New Year's Eve at Ivanov's". Shortly before the war Vvedensky wrote the play for the S.Obraztsov's puppet theater. His last works were the plays "Potets" and "Where. When".
In 1941 Germans came nearer to Kharkov, and the family should be evacuated. The train was packed, therefore Vvedensky decided to wait for the next train, which should be in few days. But there was no further evacuation. In two days Vvedensky was arrested and accused according to the "counterrevolutionary" clause 54 - 10. Exact date of death is unknown. Later in the rehabilitation document there was a date - December 20, 1941. |
Culture and Art 