Nikolai Konstantinov

Nikolai Konstantinov was born to the writer Natalia Sukhanova on 22 May 1961in the town of Zheleznovodsk in Stavropole Krai. He graduated from the decorative design department of the Mitrofan Grekov School of Art in Rostov-on-Don, where he studied at Yury Fesenko’s studio, in the same group as Alexander Kislyakov. Konstantinov’s interest in the practices and structures of avant-garde art arose during his student years. He had a passion for contemporary jazz, which eventually led to his involvement in Sergei Timofeyev’s rock band Peking Row Row. He sewed extravagant costumes, choreographed theatrical performances and performed improvisations with both music and expressive painting and drawing. When all the members of Art or Death moved to Moscow, Konstantinov continued to develop his activity in Rostov-on-Don, where he influenced the work of many young artists. He took part in most of the Art or Death exhibitions and recordings of all the albums of Peking Row Row. Nikolai Konstantinov died suddenly in Rostov-on-Don on 3 May 2006.