Bobruisk sculptor Ivan Danilchenko: “I’ll find a suitable tree and start working”

On April 25, the famous Bobruisk sculptor will celebrate his 71st birthday Ivan Danilchenko. Bobruisk residents know Ivan Ivanovich, first of all, as the author of the sculpture of Ephraim Sevela near the Tovarishch cinema.

Ivan Danilchenko was born in the Narovlyansky district of the Gomel region. The craving for beauty and creative self-improvement led to Bobruisk. Twice Ivan tried to enter the famous Bobruisk “tag” – an art school, now the college named after A. Larin. The second attempt was successful.

The irony of fate: once “screened out” by the selection committee, Danilchenko many years later began to teach beauty to young people – he taught fine arts in the agricultural town named after Lenin. Now Ivan Ivanovich is on a well-deserved rest.

– Don’t you miss your students? – I ask him.

– I miss you, of course. But change comes, and we must give way to the young,” the artist notes philosophically.

But strength and creative energy still inspire new works. In the near future – Vseslav Charodey. The sketch of the image of the Prince of Polotsk is already ready.

“I’ll find a suitable tree and start working,” the artist shares his plans.

As before, Ivan Ivanovich lives and works in Sychkovo, the nearest suburb of Bobruisk. If he goes anywhere, it’s not far away. Recent voyages include a trip to Minsk, to the Belarusian State Academy of Arts.

“My alma mater,” says the birthday boy. – When I was a student, it was still a theater and art institute. I remembered my student years with warmth.

Much more often, Ivan Danilchenko comes to Bobruisk. Here he has a daughter and three grandchildren – 7-year-old David, 5-year-old Rosa and 2-year-old Margarita. Creative “genes,” says the birthday boy, have so far only appeared in David:

– He draws well, but recently I became interested in history. Ancient Greece, Rome. Draws knights and legionnaires.

Recently, daughter Daria and her large family celebrated a housewarming party. When furnishing an apartment on Zapadny, my father and grandfather also tried themselves as an interior designer.

“My son-in-law and I built cabinets from wooden panels,” Ivan Ivanovich smiles.

Ivan Danilchenko considers health to be the main and best gift for his birthday. And very fair! A couple of years ago, the artist suffered from Covid with its consequences. But for the last year, he says, illnesses have not caused any problems. The artist hopes that the upcoming 72nd year of his life will bring him the strength to realize all his plans. And it will allow you to recharge with new energy – creative and vital. That’s what we want!