1870--Grigory Gurkin was born in Ulala (now Gorno-Altaisk in Mt.Altai) as son of the peasant. (Another sources refer his birth to 1872)1878-1883--Attended the school of Altai mission. Also taught in classes of icongraphy
1883-94--Worked as an assistant, teacher in schools in Altaic villages Paspaul, Ulaly. He continued attending iconography classes.
1890th--Gurkin spent few years working as a employee in erecting of iconstases (the place in Russian ortodox church where icons are placed)
1896--Acquainted with A. V. Anochin, an alumnus of S-Peterbourg capella, later a well-known musical etnographer and componist
1897-1898--Gurkin took lessons from I. I. Shishkin. In 1898 Shishkin died during their mutual work.
1899-1905--Attended the St.-Peterbourg Academy of Arts.
1902-1906--Gurkin was travelling on Mt. Altai on several occasions.
1903--Gurkin excibited in 31 Excibition of The "Peredwizhniki" (Itinerants' Society of Traveling Exhibitions). His drawing are regularly published in a very popular Russian magazing "The Niva". He earned enough money to begin an erection of his own home at Anos (Mt. Altai).
1907--December-Januar 1908, Gurkin held a two-men (with another outstanding Siberian painter Nikulin) show in Tomsk and achieved instant fame among Siberian intellectuals. The exhibition was organised by great Siberian public man Potanin.
1911--one-man exhibition in Barnaul and Krasnoyarsk with immense success.
1915--one-man exhibition in Tomsk. Was organised by a great Russian writer and his friend Shishkov
1917--The revolutions in Russia. Gurkin became involved in politics. In July he was as the most known among Altaic people elected a chairman of Altay highland Duma.
1918--February, elected a chairman of independent Altaic state -- Karokorum District Rule.
1918--December-April 1919, prisoned by Kolchkak authorities and placed in Biisk prison for ideas of separateng and parricide. Was liberated because lack of "practical deeds".
1919--Automne, depart for Mongolia.
1920--Automne, depart for Tuva with a red partisan's brigade.
1921-1925--Worked at Tanna-Tuva Republic (an independent state joined to SU in 1944). The painter was regularly been commissioned by Tuva government to paint murals, portraits of state men, etnographical sketches, the illustrations etc.
1925--Automne, returned to Oirot-Tura Region (now Repablic Altai).
1925--Winter, exhibition of Siberian painter in Novosibirsk. Gurkin is strongly critizised by youngest colleges "for 'otstalost' (being adherent of old, i. g. pre-revolution methods of painting and thinking)".
1926--Participated in geological expedition to Belucha (White Peak, Ak-Kem). There he produced more than 50 sketches.
1926--Two exhibitions at Moscow. Thanks to support of Narkom (minister) of Education Lunacharsky Gurkin's paintings have a great success. From since he became well-known in SU, esp. in Turkish speaking republic (now independent states) Kazachstan, Uzbekistan, Kirgisia, Turkmenistan and Azerbajdjan.
1934--Convicted for Turkish nationalism, but was approved.
1937--Juin, arrested.
1937--October, 10, executed by shooting.
- Materials of conference to Gurkin's 125 birthday. Barnaul, 1996.
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