The show of Lev Borodulin's works is timed for his 80-th birthday. He graduated from the department of Art at The Moscow Institute of Printing and started learning photography at the end of 1940s. By the middle of 1950s he becomes the best Soviet sport reporter. In 1964 "Photography Year Book", the English yearly journal, called him "the star of the world photo art". In 1967 the Japanese newspaper ASAHI recognized him the best photographer. In 1972 he repatriated to Israel where he lives 30 years already. The part of his rich archive is being exposed in the halls of the Moscow Center of Photography till September.
In 1972, in Munich, he was awarded with the gold Olympic medal for his achievements in sport photography. One can see logic in that: photography is considered to be a kind of sport. Before Borodulin no one could take photos in such a manner. Really, at that time masters were able to give their photos exact names.
Lev Borodulin had the right to travel abroad. He was the photo reporter of the "Ogonyok" magazine, the best Soviet photographer. He visited all the continents while most of the Soviet people were dreaming about the tour to Bulgaria. In spite of this fact, Borodulin decided to change the place of residence. They say it had been connected to his son. In any case, it was a long time ago…
At the exhibition in the Center of Photography you can see the photos taken in two Borodulin's Motherlands. It is seen that the USSR was closer for him. In Israel Borodulin could find the details that are common for this country and the ex-Soviet Union. For example, the Peasants' Day when the agricultural celebration is marked with the tractors, children's dancing, and Hebrew alphabet made of hey (the photo is called "Celebration", 1980s)… Then he found the "Electric Power Station" (Israel, 1980s), and even "The course of the newcomers in army" (Israel, 1975). But he could not find the expression of his earlier sport photos. They say Borodulin was interested in sport because he did not like politics. However, in his sport snapshots he showed the hidden tension of the moment. He was the master discovering the real conflicts. The seconds of victory, the fury of an attack and all the out-of-limit human emotions are seen in his photos. Sport allows showing all that without censorship. But in Israel Borodulin has probably lost that good skill.
The tension has come out. His Israeli photos are good but not genius. They have no part of fantastic art. One could say his genius remained in the USSR forever.

М. Sidlin
23.07.2003 10:01 | Independent Newspaper