Belous
Ivan Gnatovych was born on February 25, 1944 in the village of Kirovka,
Malovyskivski district, Kirovograd region. He has been interested in photography since
school.
In 1964 was called up for military service, were he served for 25 years as a
regular officer. In 1975 he graduated from the State Pedagogical University in
Komsomolsk-na-Amuri (Russia), majoring in “geography teacher”.
After completing his military service in 1990 began to work in Trepivka
school of Znamyanka district, Kirovograd region. Founded an ecological society “Nature”
at school. On its initiative Regional administration of ecology and the department of
natural history of V.Vynnychenko State Kirovograd Pedagogical University made a scientific
investigation of local flora. A decision to create a local botanical reserve “Hills of
Antonovychy” (3 km from Trepivka) was made on the basis of the thorough study. More than
300 sorts of plants are grown in this picturesque territory, 10 among them are registered
in the Red Book of Ukraine and Europe.
For the last 20 years I.Belous works at the head of children’s photo
society “Search” at Znamyanka regional centre of children’s and youth’s
creativity. Pupils of the society constantly take part in local, regional and
all-Ukrainian competitions and festivals, many of them are the winners of prestigious
festivals – all-Ukrainian festival of children’s and youth’s cinema and television
“Crystal springs” in the nomination “Photography” (Sumy, Shostka, Vinnytsa)
2003-2013, all-Ukrainian festival of children’s cinema and television “Rainbow” in
the photo competition “We are the children of Ukraine” (Kremenchuk) 2003-2008,
regional festival “Autumn colours of Bukovyna” (Chernivtsi) 2005, all-Ukrainian
absentee photo competition “My Ukraine” (Kyiv) 2003-2008.
Belous Ivan Gnatovych – a member of the National Union of the artists of
Ukraine (2007) and photo society “Collage” of Kirovograd regional centre of folk art
(2003). An active participant of rehional and all-Ukrainian photo competitions and
exhibitions. In 2009 a personal photo exhibition “Palette of Trepivka” was opened in
A.A.Osmerkin Art-Memorial Museum.
Current exhibition under a symbolic title “The provinces …” is
dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the author. Exposition is made up from more than 30
black and white and colour photo works from the series “The provinces” and “Gems of
Znamyanka region”, created during 2010-2014. Visitors will admire unique landscapes of
steppe nature, vivid folk architectural ensembles, represented in the National museum of
folk architecture and life of Ukraine Pirogovo, still lifes and portraits. All these were
captured by I.Belous’ lens. The artist’s creative search is as varied and unique as
mysterious world of nature and human existence. |