Ivenets. The national master Apollinari Pupko house museum.

In the very heart of Belarus, in the picturesque urban village of Ivenets (Volozhin district of Minsk region), there is a place that cannot be forgotten. This is the museum house of the folk craftsman, woodcarver and artist Apollinari Florianovich Pupko (1893-1984). Not only are exhibits stored here, but every inch of the space breathes the creativity of a man who has turned his home into a unique art object.

A life devoted to art.

Apollinari Pupko was born in Ivenets on November 12, 1893 and lived here for a long time - 91 years. Coming from a family of artisans, he absorbed the traditions of folk art from childhood, but his talent went far beyond the ordinary craft. Having no professional art education, he created his own unique style, combining folklore motifs, mythological plots and personal experiences. His works are wooden sculptures, bas-reliefs, paintings and drawings dedicated to the history and way of life of the Belarusian people.

The house that became a museum.

The master's main creation was his own house at 87 Komsomolskaya Street. In 1951, it was recognized as a historical monument, but the real value is not so much the building itself as its interior. Once inside, the visitor finds himself in a fairy-tale world: there is no free space here that would not be touched by the brush or chisel of the owner. The walls, ceilings, and doors are all covered with intricate murals and carvings. The facade of the house is guarded by figures of wooden Atlanteans, and inside guests are greeted by caryatids, mythological creatures and dozens of genre sculptures.

Witness to the epochs.

The fate of the master was not easy. He lived through several historical eras, and his art often became a reflection of the time. In his youth, he was engaged in the decoration of churches, continuing the traditions of the "peasant Baroque". In Soviet times, his work was not always understood by the authorities: the master refused to create ceremonial portraits of leaders, for which he was hindered in everyday life and even denied a pension. However, this did not stop people from all over the Soviet Union and from abroad from coming to Ivenets to experience authentic art. Interestingly, in May 1916, the famous revolutionary and military commander Mikhail Frunze stayed in this house, which also became one of the pages of the estate's long history.

Coming back to life.

After the death of the master in 1984, the house was actually closed to the general public for more than a quarter of a century. But today it has opened its doors again. Thanks to the efforts of her daughter, Sofya Apollinarievna Vorotnitskaya, and her husband Gennady, the house was registered as an agricultural estate and became available to visitors again. It is the daughter of the master who conducts guided tours for the guests, telling them about her father, his riddles and stories related to the creation of his works.

Preserving the legacy.

Today, Apollinari Pupko's works can be seen not only in his house museum. They occupy an honorable place in the National Art Museum of Belarus (including at the recent exhibition "I am Belarusian"), in the Russian Ethnographic Museum of St. Petersburg, as well as in the museums of Molodechno and Vilnius. But only in Ivenets can you feel the special atmosphere in which this amazing man lived and created. However, the house and its paintings are in need of restoration, and the master's family is always open to help preserve this unique corner of Belarusian culture.