Oleg Valenchuk: Children's view of the war is the most sincere

      More than 700 works were submitted to the competition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and the Year of Defender of the Fatherland announced by the President of Russia. It became not just a competition of young talents, but a real bridge between generations, connecting the events of the long-past war years with the hearts of today's children.

      On June 2, an exhibition of children's drawings opened at the Marshal Konev Museum, and the winners were awarded. The celebration of young talents began with an excursion, which was conducted for the children by young guides participating in the Konev — Marshal of Victory project.

      The guests of the event were able to evaluate the creative abilities of the contestants.

      The techniques ranged from delicate watercolor sketches depicting the fragility of peace and the horror of war to energetic pencil sketches full of dynamics and movement. Young artists, from pre-school children to art school students, used all the means available to them to express their understanding of this complex and tragic page of history.

      – I study at the Etude art studio. When the director suggested that we come up with a plot, I did not want to depict a battle, soldiers with weapons and exploding shells. I decided to portray something that very often remains behind the scenes – a girl who saved wounded soldiers at the cost of her life. I was very inspired by the poem about the nurse. And it is she who is in my drawing. She lies on the battlefield with disheveled pigtails, she no longer has the strength to fight, but she continues to believe that Victory is near," said one of the winners of the contest, Kira Okhotina.

      The subjects of the drawings are very different. There are fierce battles depicted with amazing authenticity for children, and images of peaceful workers in the rear, selflessly working for Victory, and touching moments of long-awaited meetings of the winners with their relatives. A special place is occupied by portraits of veterans, mostly the great–grandfathers of the contestants, who became the embodiment of courage and perseverance for the children.

      – Children's view of the war is the most sincere. – said State Duma Deputy Oleg Valenchuk. – This is the bridge that connects generations. The competition became a vivid confirmation that the formation of patriotic consciousness and respect for the history of the country should begin from early childhood. The drawings of the contestants are the most valuable evidence of the living memory of the Great Patriotic War, passed down from mouth to mouth, from generation to generation.

      The exhibition of the best works is now available to visitors of the Marshal Konev Museum. And soon, all the works submitted to the competition will be handed over to our fellow soldiers of the SVO, who are on the front line today.