TRETCHIKOFF
www.vladimirtretchikoff.com
Art, like fashion, is subject to cycles it seems. One of the names that is currently being rejuvenated, refreshed and revitalised to audiences across the world – most of whom would not have been alive in his era – is Vladimir Tretchikoff. WORDS:
talya goldberg
Tretchikoff was born in 1913 in Russia and lived a remarkable life, full of adventure, love and superstition, as detailed in his autobiography, Pigeon’s Luck. Our hero’s tale begins in Russia, then moves at an epic pace through Manchuria, Shanghai, Singapore and finally to Java where he visits a séance with his muse, Lenka. During this chance encounter, Tretchikoff consulted a Ouija board to find out if his wife and daughter – from whom he was separated at the outbreak of World War II – were well. They replied in the affirmative, prompting Tretchikoff to inquire about their specific location S-O-U-T-H… was the cryptic response. Further communiqués with the spirit realm foretold his imminent worldwide acclaim, right down to the names of his works that would be the most successful (O-R-I-E-N-T-A-L-L-A-D-Y, for example). Tretchikoff was initially dubious of these predictions of international recognition, being virtually under house arrest in Java in the middle of the war, yet he nevertheless headed to South Africa where he was eventually reunited with his family. It would take a few more years for the subsequent prophecies to materialise but, as we all know now, they were spot on. IMAGES: courtesy of natasha mercorio (tretchikoff renaissance) all 1950’s first hand tretchikoff prints one small seed
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