vlad.tribnet.com / Issue #546 / Arts and Ideas / Reading article...

On Wednesday in the conference hall of the Vladivostok newspaper Primorye painter Vladlen Kamovsky personally presented his 16-meter-long painting ‘Vladivostok’ to South Korean marine guards who rescued 11 Russian sailors from a sunken ship Sinegorye in October.

Six South Korean coast guards from the city of Incheon purposefully arrived in Vladivostok to be awarded with the gift. Jang Taek Kuen, head of the search and rescue division of Coast Guard Headquarters, admitted that, “that is the first time they have been invited to the country of the rescued sailors to receive the reward.” He noted that the panoramic painting of Vladivostok will be placed in headquarters of coast guards in Incheon.

Addressing Russian sailors, reporters and border guards, Jang Taek Kuen stressed the necessity for coordinated rescue efforts when ships get in distress situations. He praised courage of the sailors from Sinegorye ship and said the rescue operation was possible due to joint efforts.

Sinegorye, with a crew of 18 people and a cargo of timber, was traveling from Primorye’s port of Plastun to China and shipwrecked off South Korea's coast on October 23 when caught in a storm. South Korean rescuers managed to save 11 crewmembers.

The painter could hardly hold tears when he thanked South Korean guards for saving lives of Russian sailors. “I consider it a miracle that they managed to save 11 people,” he said. “I am an emotional person and when I found out what South Korean guards did for our sailors I immediately decided to present them my painting. I want them to feast their eyes on Vladivostok and always remember it,” Kamovsky shared.

The painter revealed that he started to draw the panoramic view of Vladivostok in 2001 and finished it only five years later. The exact length of the painting is 15.81 meters and it consists of 15 fragments. The view of Vladivostok’s Golden Horn Bay is magnificent in the evening light. “Life is the most important thing and I am happy that Russian rescued sailors can continue enjoy it thanks to South Korean coast guards,” Kamovsky said.