Exotic birds

Location: passage between buildings

A new project by the famous animal photographer Alexander Avalov launched within the walls of the Darwin Museum. Visitors will see more than 30 bright and colorful portraits of birds - the feathered inhabitants of the Moscow, Prague and Yerevan zoos. Graceful pink flamingos, a majestic crowned crane, a peacock with a luxurious emerald fan of feathers and many other exotic birds will decorate the exhibition halls of the museum. Animal portraits are distinguished not only by their bright individuality, but also by their large format: some photographs reach the height of human growth. The exhibition will last until June 9.

A professional of the highest level and a great optimist, Alexander Avalov is a famous master of animal portraits. His works gained fame due to their expressive character, soulful gaze, beauty and naturalness of each “model”, and were exhibited in the best galleries of the country and at large foreign art venues.

The photo project “Exotic Birds” is dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the Moscow Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in Europe, and draws attention to the problem of preserving rare and endangered animal species. Many of the birds presented at the exhibition belong to vulnerable species and are listed in the International Red Book. Zoos around the world participate in programs for the conservation and breeding of rare animals and play an important role in preserving their biodiversity.

It’s interesting that it was with birds that Alexander Avalov’s journey as an animal photographer began. His photographic sketches of the life of seagulls on the Caspian coast were first published in the newspaper “Baku Rabochiy,” and photo essays about the protected birds of Transcaucasia were published by the authoritative magazine “Sovietland.” However, it was in the feathered and four-legged inhabitants of zoos that the photographer was able to discern the “personality” of the animal and was inspired by the idea of expressing this individuality through a portrait. I was able to achieve great success in photography thanks to my unconditional talent, love for my work and, of course, understanding of animals. For many years now, the photographer's main models have been zoo pets.

At the exhibition, professional photographic portraits of birds will be complemented by birds in sculpture from the collection of the Darwin Museum, created by famous Soviet animal artists, and the main working “tools” of a photographer – cameras, film and accessories for developing photographs.

About the author:

Alexander Avalov is a member of the Union of Journalists. He successfully exhibited his works both in Russia and abroad. Abroad - in the regional museum of Cesky Krumlov, Czech Budejovice, in one of the castles in the historical part of Brno, Prague. His works are stored in the cities of the Czech Republic, the Hasselblad Center in Gothenburg (Sweden), and the Louvre (France). A large series of postal envelopes with images of animals from the Moscow Zoo has been published.