Vladimir Sichov

From Soviet Times to Grand Couturiers

Photographs produced by the master between the 1970s and 1990s

Main Building Exhibition Hall, 3rd floor

15.12.2018—10.02.2019

Vladimir Sichov made his way from Soviet underground to French fashion houses, although his name is virtually unknown to Russian audience. The first retrospective of Vladimir Sichov in Saint Petersburg includes more than 50 photographs, produced by the master between the 1970s and 1990s. They depict everyday life in USSR, exhibition openings, and portraits of nonconformist artists (Ilya Kabakov, Ilya Glazunov). Photographs from the French period, 1980s — 1990s, captured on film many prominent figures of the world culture: Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent, Sonia Rykiel, Kenzō Takada, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Helmut Newton, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

The exhibition has been arranged for display in Russia by law firm “TM-Dedenсe.”

Law Firm “TM-Defenсe” actively supports cultural projects and initiatives. In 2017, “TM-Defenсe” together with the Shchusev State Museum of Architecture organized a large-scale exhibition Dolce Vita of works by Italian photographer Marcello Geppetti. In 2018, as a part of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the firm designed and produced innovative light multimedia show in St. Anne's Lutheran Church.

Highlights

Img33558

Vladimir Sichov
Moscow, 1972

Kabakov Ilia-009-3615

Vladimir Sichov
Ilya Kabakov

Karl Lagerfeld-005

Vladimir Sichov
Karl Lagerfeld
1983

Keith Haring-002 (resized)

Vladimir Sichov
Keith Haring

About the author

Vladimir Sichov

Having become interested in photography in the mid-1960s in Kazan, Vladimir Sichov moved to Moscow in 1972. There he worked at the Trade Union of Graphic Artists, took photos of street life and portraits of fellow nonconformist artists, and held apartment exhibitions of nonconformist art.

In 1980, Vladimir Sichov emigrated to France and brought his photo archive through the Iron Curtain. The photographs he made in Soviet Union were first published by Paris Match, then Stern, Oggi and Life, which made the author the most published magazine photographer in the world that year. It also led to the contract with Vogue. In the beginning of the 1980s, Sichov took pictures of fashion shows and made advertisements for iconic French couturiers. From 1980 to 2010, he worked as a photographer at Sipa Press Agency and thus witnessed many historic events.