Alex Pogo

Alexander Pogoretzky

A collection of drawings, gouaches, pastels, watercolours, inks and prints was "discovered" in 2002 in the apartment of a man whom I met in 1989 in Paris, as soon as I arrived in France. Since that date, Alexander Pogoretzky's protective friendship towards me has never ceased, until the very last period when he passed away quietly in a retirement home.

Alexandre Pogoretzky was born in Tunisia on September 19, 1926, to Russian immigrant parents, naturalized French in the 1950s.

Alexander studied in the "Russian Cadet Corps" in Paris. He spent a year studying at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Lausanne.
Immediately after the death of his father, in 1953, he stopped painting and joined Swiss insurance. He remained employed there until his retirement in 1986. After the death of his mother, for the rest of his life, the main concern of Pogo, as he was called, was to be present at the Orthodox religious services of many churches in Paris. and in the Paris region. After the litugies, he visits the old acquaintances of his family, bringing them his friendship, his human warmth and his material support. He immediately came to the aid of people in difficulty, without any compensation. His solitary life and the move from the 15th arrondissement of Paris to an HLM building in Villeneuve la Garenne caused Pogo to lose interest in "normal" life for good. He let himself go, living in the midst of unopened boxes and piled up furniture, never washed for lack of space in his bathtub; during his move, he brought everything there from his old apartment in the 15th, although the area was smaller in Villeneuve.

When he talked about it, he complained about his feet. His daily prayers and visits earned him the designation of "pillar of the parish" of the Christian Action of Russian Students, Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin located in the 15th arrondissement. However, during periods of summer vacation or on ordinary days without services, he traveled and attended Orthodox services elsewhere. He was the living memory of a whole generation of Russian emigration, he knew all the graves in the cemetery of
Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, where many Russians are buried.

For the past two years, a room has been set up for him within the parish compound. He continued not to like bathing too much, looked bad and fainted regularly, especially during the long services of Holy Week or Nativity Advent. Each time, he spent a few hours at the nearest clinic, Saint Michel, then they released him with an insistent recommendation to eat sugar in the morning, "even before communion!" He didn't dare and smiled into his fasting white mustache.

The last fall was prejudicial to him. He was lying in an impossible position...

Discover contemporary artworks by Alex Pogo, browse recent artworks and buy online. Categories: contemporary french artists. Artistic domains: Painting, Drawing. Artist represented by Fondation Pogoretzky. Account type: Artist , member since 2005 (Country of origin France). Buy Alex Pogo's latest works on Artmajeur: Discover great art by contemporary artist Alex Pogo. Browse artworks, buy original art or high end prints.

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