Alexey was born in Leningrad 2 December 1964. His father Boris Parygin was a social psychologist. Alexey studied at the graphics faculty of the Herzen University from 1982 to 1989. He organized the art group “Union № 0” in Leningrad in 1986–1989 and created the art squatters’ workshop “Nevsky-25” in Leningrad in 1987–1990. Joined the Professional Artists’ Union of Russia in 1994, the Art Critics Association (ACA) member since 2003.
PhD in Art History with the thesis Silk Screening as a phenomenon of the 20th Century art (2002).
In 1980-1990 Parygin concentrated on easel oil painting outside and using models at the studio, experimented with various paint foundations such as canvas, plywood, glass and other media and used texture and relief techniques.
The works create new poetry, which involuntarily rivals with habitual esthetic stereotypes. For instance, we accept as a common notion to worship joyously the classic beauty of St. Petersburg, its harmony and stately grandeur. This exposition does have variations of that sort. But observe “Night Nevsky” by Parygin. Rough to the touch texture, dark abyss. In the darkness urgent lights explode. They bring forth immediate spiritual angst. One does not regard the regal magnificence of the urban landscape-it is neither cast aside, nor left behind the curtains, as dramatism of modern perception takes over. One regards not a city museum for curious crowds, but one beholds the habitat of our days where we seek, love, fight, suffer. That art defines perception...[2]
...from my point of view, a very serious, worthy and professional exhibition. It's nice that there is a solid culture of color, ...there is a persistent desire to express their feelings of life, their artistic vision.[3]
From the middle of the 90-ies the artist’s main studies subject matter and experiments became signs and sign systems as communicative link of the contemporary society. From 1997 the artist created a series of extended multimedia projects Contemplation of Money, Art is a Business, Art in the Forest.
His works show high culture, erudition and taste, it is hard to favor any particular piece. Moreover, the artist prefers options on a particular plastic theme, as he himself puts it. He uses various in techniques, and revisits it in different periods of creativity. He believes his plastic theme conveys the plastic state. The state arises and manifests in very different ways, yet retaining its basic sign. Perhaps this art form blends both the sign and its notion.[4]
Since 2000, Parygin has been developing the utopian concept of the form of art after the death of art—Posturbanism Art Project / PostUrbanism.
Artist's books
Since 1989, Parygin has been contributing to artist's books. His first editions featured visual series of the author's poetic text: Pesok (The Sand). Leningrad. 1989; Circulation—5 numbered and signed copies; Tsvetnye zvuki (The Coloured Sounds). Leningrad. 1989. Circulation—5 numbered and signed copies;[5][6]Zelenaia kniga (The Green Book). Leningrad. 1989. Circulation—6 numbered and signed copies;[7][8]Moia mansarda (My Attic). Leningrad. 1990. Circulation—6 numbered and signed copies.[9] And the artist’s book Krasnye karliki (The Red Dwarfs). Saint Petersburg. 1990. Circulation—8 numbered and signed copies.[10][11]
Another important direction in contemporary Russian artists’ books, with many precedents set by the Futurists, is the fusion of poetic and artistic talent of artist-authors blessed with Doppelbegabung. The intimate relationships between text and image is enhanced when author and artist are one and the same person and engage in an inter-art discourse that leads to creations that are truly unified works of art. An artist who achieved equal mastery in more than one medium and made different arts merge in his personality was no doubt Alexey Parygin. His poetic collections <...> represent an attempt to synthesize text and plastic figurative form in books where literary and visual languages are calculated to have a simultaneous effect on the reader/viewer. The work of Alexey Parygin have common features that are not accidental as the books were created at more or less the same time.[12]
Spanning for three decades of featured art works the legacy holds about forty unique book objects. In the past decade the artist has participated several major group art editions: Metamorphosis. LS Collection Van Abbemuseum. 2013;[13]Mayakovsky-Manifesto. St. Petersburg. 2014.[14][15][16]Strannik Gumilëv (Wanderer Gumilyov). 2016;[17][18]Jubilaeus. LS Collection Van Abbemuseum. 2018;[19]Russkiy bukvar' (Russian Alphabet book). M. 2018;[20]Poeziya neizvestnykh slov: Variatsii v kirillitse (Poetry of Unknown Words: Variations in the Cyrillic alphabet). M. 2019.[21]
Principal Artist, Printmaking Studio, Timofey Markov Publishing House, St. Petersburg (2012-2014).
The artist worked on several joint publishing projects with Georgy Kovenchuk.
Solo exhibitions
Posturbanism: Back to the Future. Alexey Parygin. Engravings, art objects, collection.—Book Graphics Library. Saint Petersburg. March 16—April 16, 2023.[36][37][38]
Parygin & Korolchuk (painting, graphics).—Russian Museum, Lecture Hall. Saint Petersburg. November 30—December 31, 1991.
Group exhibitions
Kazan International Printmaking Triennale „Rider“ 2024. The State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan. Kazan. October 3, 2024–January 19, 2025.[39]
Nuovi corpi nuove forme, Libri d’Artisti. Libri Oggetto (Dalla collezione Archivio di Comunicazione Visiva e Libri d’Artista). Galleria Civica d'Arte di Palazzo Moncada. Caltanissetta. 2022.[43]
5ª Bienal Internacional de Gravura „Lívio Abramo“. Casa da Cultura Luiz Antonio Marinez Corrêa. Araraquara. 2018—2019.
Равноденствие. Gallery Nevsky 20. Leningrad. 1991, June 22—July 22.
Молодежная выставка. Exhibition Hall of the Artists Union of Russia on Okhta. Leningrad. 1990, June.
Без жури. Exhibition Hall of the Artists Union of Russia on Okhta. Leningrad. 1989, April.
Ленинград, история, люди (молодежная республиканская выставка). Exhibition Hall of the Artists Union of Russia on Okhta. Leningrad. 1988, June 10—July 10.
Teaching work since 1988.
Taught courses:
Drawing at the Department of Graphics and Sculptures Herzen University (2020–2021). Color science, printed graphics, research at the Department of Graphic Design at St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design (2018–2019). He taught layout, the basics of composition, and the foundations of sculpture at the Institute of Landscape Architecture Saint-Petersburg State Forestry University (2017–2019). Painting course and drawing course at the Department of Interior Design/ St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design (2003–2012), for which the concept of learning and working programs of the 1st in the 4th course was developed; painting course at the Design School, St. Petersburg, (2004–2009). Author's course Basics of examination of graphic works of art at the Department of Art Studies of St. Petersburg Humanitarian University of Trade Unions, the management of diploma works (1995–2001).
Texts by A. Parygin
Among the priority scientific interests of A. B. Parygin is the history of the techniques of the author's printed graphics, first of all—silk screening. Issues of the primacy of using silkscreen as an art technique; Regional schools and an early history of the process; The chronology and geography of its spread in the world; the interconnection of the latest currents and technological innovations in art. Silkscreen in the art of the United States and Canada and Cuba (1920-60s), in European art: Germany, England, France, Finland (1930-60s) and the USSR. Parygin is the author of Russia's first fundamental art research on the history and phenomenology of creative silk screening. The results are published in two monographs (2009, 2010).[49]
Parygin is the author of Russia's first fundamental art research on the history and phenomenology of creative silk screening . The results are published in two monographs (2009, 2010). The author of more than 100 articles on the history of graphics and contemporary art, including the artists of St. Petersburg (N.F. Lapshin, O.A. Lyagachev, Yu.K. Lyukshin, A. I. Kuindzhi, V.M. Konashevich, A.A. Korolchuk, M.A. Kopylkove, N.I. Kofanove, B.N. Koshelokhov, G.V. Kovenchuk, A.V. Kaplun, L.K. Kazbekove, T.S. Kerner and others) for the German academic directory Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon Die Bildenden Künstler aller Zeiten und Völker (AKL).
Monographs
Parygin A.B. The Art of Silk Screening. The 20th century. History, Phenomenology, Techniques, Names.—St. Petersburg: ST. Petersburg GUTD, 2010.—304 pp. (in Russian)ISBN978-5-7937-0490-8[50]
Parygin Alexey "A City as the Artist's Subjectivity" is an Artist is a large Russian project in the livre d'artiste format // Book Arts Newsletter. No. 140. Bristol: CFPR (Centre for Fine Print Research). University of the West of England, 2021, July—August. P. 46-48. ISSN 1754-9086[53]
Parygin A. B. A City as an Artist’s Subjective Space / City as Artist's subjectivity. Artist's book project. Catalog. Authors of the articles: Parygin A.B., Markov T.A., Klimova E.D., Borovsky A.D., Severyukhin D.Ya., Grigoryants E.I., Blagodatov N.I. (Rus & En) — SPb: Ed. T. Markova. 2020. 128 pp. P. 5. ISBN978-5-906281-32-6[54]
Parygin A.B. Printed graphics between "yesterday" and "tomorrow" / Vs. Art. catalogue of "Printed Graphics of St. Petersburg Artists." St. Petersburg: SPb SH. 2020. 192 pp. P. 3–8. ISBN978-5-6043891-1-9 (RUS)
Parygin A. B. Posturbanism as a concept of the future // St. Petersburg art notebooks, # 53, St. Petersburg: AIS, 2019. P. 236–238. ISBN978-5-906442-17-8 (RUS)
Paryguine А. Idée et Manifeste [Posturbanisme] // Revue Trakt. Nu. 6; Juin 2018.—Paris. pp.26–28. ISSN2558-3522 (French)
Parygin A. B. Artist's Book as an art form / "The Art of Printed Graphics: History and Modernity." In Sat. Articles on the materials of the scientific conference Fourth Kazan Art Studies Readings November 19–20, 2015. Kazan: GMAI RT, 2015. P. 75–78, il. ISBN978-5-4428-0085-2 (RUS)
Parygin A. The Bedbug—2013. P. 140-165 / In the book: Georgy Kovenchuk (Gaga) draws "The Bedbug" (book-album) // Kovenchuk G., Borovsky A.—SPb: T. Markov Publishing House.—2013, 160 pp. ISBN978-5-906281-08-1[56] (RUS)
Parygin A. B. The birth of Russian silk screening / Ural art and museum business: experience, problems, perspectives. Sat. Mat. Conf. All-Russian art readings of B. V. Pavlovsky's memory. EMIYA, 2011. Yekaterinburg. 2013. pp.194–198. (RUS)
Parygin A. B. Moscow silkscreen 1950-2010 // Design. Materials. Technology. No 3 (28), St. Petersburg: SPb GUTD, 2013. P. 77–82, Il. 1. ISSN1990-8997 (RUS)
Parygin A. B. Canadian Silk-Screen Project. (1942-1963) // St. Petersburg Art Notebooks, # 26, St. Petersburg: AIS, 2013. P. 228–230. ISBN978-5-906442-01-7 (RUS)
Parygin A. B. Silk Screening in the Art of Post-War Germany // Design. Materials. Technology. No 2 (22), St. Petersburg: SPb GUTD, 2012. P. 66-72, Il. ISSN1990-8997 (RUS)
Parygin A. B. The First Steps of Creative Silk Screening in Russia // Design. Materials. Technology. No 2 (17), St. Petersburg: SPb GUTD, 2011. P. 74-78, il. ISSN1990-8997 (RUS)
Parygin A. B. Course of painting and drawing at the Interior Department // St. Petersburg Art Notebooks, # 21, St. Petersburg: AIS, 2011. P. 181-190. ISBN978-5-9902810-2-8 (RUS)
Parygin A. B. The First Steps of Creative Silk Screening (serigraphy) in Europe // Design. Materials. Technology. No 3 (14), St. Petersburg: SPb GUTD, 2010. P. 114-116, Il. ISSN1990-8997 (RUS)
Public lectures
‘Subjective City as a Project (Printmaking and Artist’s Books)‘. The State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan. Kazan. 2024, October 4. 1-2.30 p.m
‘Subjective City as a Project‘. Vologda. 2024, July 13. 2-3.30 p.m
‘Manifesto as a Book‘. Book Graphics Library. Saint Petersburg. 2024, May 18. 9.45-10.45 p.m
‘Fundamentals of Printmaking Examination and a Short Course in the History of Engraving from its Appearance to the Present Day‘. Express course for artists of Goznak. Peter and Paul Fortress. Saint Petersburg. 2024, April 3, 4, 5. 1-3 p.m
‘Posturbanism: yesterday, today, tomorrow‘. Library of book graphics. Saint Petersburg. 2023, April 1. 5-6.30 p.m. (As part of a personal exhibition).[58]
Five lectures: ‘The Artist's Book in the Department of Prints NLR Russian‘. National Library of Russia. Department of Prints and Photographs. Saint Petersburg. 2023, February 2, February 9, February 16, March 2, March 7. 7-8.40 p.m.[59]
Five lectures: ‘Pleasure accessible to many. History of Prints‘ for the lecture hall of the Russian Museum. Mikhailovsky Castle. Saint Petersburg. 2022, September 29, October 13, November 10, December 15, December 29. 7-9 p.m.[60][61]
‘Post Urbanism as the Concept of the Future‘. David Kakabadze Kutaisi Fine Art Gallery. Kutaisi. 2019, June 15, Saturday. 3-4 p.m. (As part of the art festival “Artisterium XII”).[63]
Interview
Алексей Парыгин. Постурбанизм: знаки в пространстве идей.—Interview with Elena Grigoryants // Авансцена. 2023 (11), December, No. 3, 4. P. 148-155. (in Russian) Circulation–2000 copies. ISSN2712-7982ISBN978-5-907685-39-0
Pavlovsky A. S. Designing yourself: About the first books of Alexei Parygin // Сборник материалов двенадцатой научно-практической конференции «Трауготовские чтения 2022» / ed. A. K. Kononova.—St. Petersburg: BKG, 2023. 360 pp. pp.153–160. ISBN978-5-6049512-9-3[64]
Wilkins, Caroline A vocal journey through the language of zaum // Journal of Interdisciplinary Voice Studies. Volume 4, Number 1, 1 April 2019, pp.85–99 (15)[65]
Posturbanism: Back to the Future. Alexey Parygin. Engravings, art objects, collection. Authors of the articles: Konokotina L., Kononikhin N. St. Petersburg: BKG. 2023. 24 pp.[67] (RUS)
Kolekcija. Iespiedgrafika Latvijas Nacionālās bibliotēkas Mākslas krājumā/ Mākslas krājumā. Dmitrijs Zinovjevs, Mārtiņš Mintaurs, Anda Boluža. Rīga: National Library of Latvia. 2022. 230 lpp. ISBN9789934610240
Imago Mundi/ Beyond the Black square. Contemporary Artists from St. Petersburg. Texts: Luciano Benetton, Liliana Malta, Gleb Ershov. Treviso: Antiga Edizioni, 2021. 480 pp. P. 308-309. ISBN978-88-8435-135-7[68][69]
III Международная триеннале современной графики в Новосибирске. Новосибирский государственный художественный музей. Novosibirsk: Изд-й дом «Вояж». 2021. 276 с.
Second International Print Biennale (07.09—07.11.2019). Yerevan. 2021. С. 357.
A City as an Artist’s Subjective Space. Групповой проект в формате книги художника/ Каталог. Авт. вст. статей: Парыгин А. Б., Марков Т. А., Климова Е. Д., Боровский А. Д., Северюхин Д. Я., Григорьянц Е. И., Благодатов Н. И. Под общей редакцией Парыгина А. Б. Saint Petersburg: Изд. Т. Маркова. 2020. 128 с. ISBN978-5-906281-32-6
The Looking Glass and Through It. International art project. Catalog / Зеркала и зазеркалье. Международный выставочный проект. Каталог. МИСП. Авт. вст. статей: Толстая О., Шакирова Л., Пацюков В., Ипполитов А. Saint Petersburg: НП-Принт. 2020. 208 с.
4-я Казанская международная биеннале печатной графики "Всадник". Каталог / Авт. вст. ст. О. Л. Улемнова. Kazan: Заман. 2019. 128 с. ISBN9785442801408
IX Международная выставка Уральской триеннале печатной графики. Каталог / Авт. сост. И. Н. Оськина. Ufa. 2019. 216 с.
Artisterium XII. Artisterium On the Road // Catalog (7 notebooks in the cover). Tbilisi: Artisterium. 2019.[70]
Nuire № 5. Quatrième biennale internationale de poésie visuelle d’Ille sur Tet Catalogne nord // Catalog. Ille-sur-Têt. 2019. 95 pp. P. 82.
5ª Bienal Internacional de Gravura "Lívio Abramo" // Catalog. Araraquara. 2019. 23 pp.[71]
V Фотобиеннале современной фотографии. Русский музей // Каталог. Saint Petersburg: Palace Editions, Russian Museum. 2018. 240 с.
MicroMacroCosm // Catalog. Mumbai. IPEP. 2018. 24 pp.
Il PIACERE NEI LIBRI rassegna di arte erotica dagli ex libris ai libri d’artista // Catalogo Biennale del libro d’artista IV Edizione. Napoli: Lineadarte, 2018. 180 pp.
Third International Printmaking Biennial in Cacak // Catalog. Cacak. 2018. 105 рp.[73]
“17. INTERBIFEP” Mezinárodní bienále festivalu portrétu // Catalog. Tuzla: Mezinárodní portrétní galerie Tuzla. 2018. 186 pp.[74]
黑龙江美术出版社(黑龍江美術出版社) Heilongjiang Fine Arts Publishing House. Harbin (哈尔滨). (中国). Chief Editor Chen Fenyue. Executive Chief Editor Catherine Druzhinin. V. 1. Graphics St. Petersburg. 2013. 292 pp.
V Bienal Internacional de la Acurela. Articolo introduttivo: Dr. Gerardo Estrada, A. Guati Rojo. Mexico City, 2002. 88 pp.
Петербург 95; Петербург 96; Петербург 97; Петербург 98; Петербург 2000; Петербург 2011. Авт. вст. ст.: Л. Скобкина. Saint Petersburg: Saint Petersburg Manege, 1996; 1997; 1998; 1999; 2001; 2012, ил.
II-й Международный фестиваль экспериментальных искусств и перформанса/ Каталог. Авт. вст. ст.: Л. Скобкина. Saint Petersburg: Saint Petersburg Manege, 1998. 63 с.
Равноденствие// Буклет к выставке на Невском 20. Автор вступит. ст. Юдина Т. К. Галерея ТСХ. Saint Petersburg., 1991.
Grigoryants El. Absorbing the Futurist heritage: Vasily Vlasov and Alexey Parygin / The Futurist Tradition in Contemporary Russian Artists’ Books // International Yearbook of Futurism Studies / Special Issue on Russian Futurism. Ed. by Günter Berghaus. Berlin & Boston: Walter de Gruyter. Vol. 9. 2019, P. 280.