Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre is a gallery of mechanical sculptures created by the Artist/Sculptor Eduard Bersudsky with Gallery Director Tatyana Jakovskaya and Technical Manager and Lighting Designer Sergey Jakovsky. Founded originally in Leningrad (now St Petersburg) in Russia, the artists moved to Scotland in 1994 and opened a gallery in Glasgow in 1996. The current gallery is in 103 Trongate, an arts hub in the Merchant City area of Glasgow.

Originally a prolific carver of wooden sculptures, Eduard Bersudsky (b 1939) began creating electro-mechanical moving sculptures in the late 1960s and has continued to build these 'kinemats' as he calls them ever since. Combining exquisite wooden carvings with motors, metal frames, found objects and recycled machinery his kinemats perform to glorious soundtracks and sophisticated lighting designs in the Glasgow gallery and in touring exhibitions in the UK and beyond.

This Flickr page has been created to present an overview of the magical universe of Eduard Bersudsky and to document Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre's work - the sculptures, the exhibitions, the commissions and other events. It includes early photographs from the artist's time in Russia and the rare, extant drawings that exist from the period 1968-1972 as well as photographs from 'behind the scenes' - photographs from the artist's workshop and sculptures in the early stages of development. In time this archive will contain photographs of each significant artwork and these will, wherever possible, include construction images, photographs taken under 'working light' and photographs taken under theatre lights. Eduard Bersudsky does not work from drawings so there are no drawings or plans but there are illustrations for the majority of kinemats by the artist Maggie Lenert Stead.

Copyright information: Please note that all images in Sharmanka Archive remain the copyright of the photographer/artist and Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre. Images on this Flickr page may be downloaded and reproduced for NON-COMMERCIAL uses such as student essays and reports, blogs and websites provided the images are credited as ©sharmanka kinetic theatre. Higher resolution images for use in print may be acquired by writing to info@sharmanka.com with a description of the intended use. Please contact us at this email address for any further information.