Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau Nieto
A trip to Syria helped a Spanish artist to rethink the myths that exist in the West about the Russian military, RIA Novosti reports. The Russian Ministry of Defence invited Battle scenes painter Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau Nieto to Aleppo. According to him, he wanted to go to Syria to draw Russian soldiers after visiting the Grekov's studio of military artists in Moscow last year.
The artist came to Syria and spent 10 days with the Russian military. He lived with them in the camp and collected materials for the future work.
Now he is confident that Hollywood image of "nasty and ridiculous" Russian soldiers is very far from reality. In fact, Russians are different - disciplined, decent and caring. Ferrer-Dalmau Nieto said he felt safe and at home with them. The Spaniard was also very surprised that many Russians spent their free time at the base reading. He admitted that he did not expect them to like reading so much.
The artist explained that the picture should reflect both the chaos that the war brought to Syria and the human face of the Russian army helping the local people. He plans to hand over the finished work to Russia.
"I want a viewer who look at my painting after years to exclaim: Look what Aleppo was like a hundred years ago", the artist said.
Russkiy Mir
