It
was
in
1974
that,
in
one
of
my
conversations
with
Konstatin,
came
the
idea
of
having
an
art
exposition
in
Montes
Claros.
It
would
be
an
outdoor
fair
or
exposition,
in
a
square,
on
a
sunny
day.
All
our
artists
would
exhibit
their
art
and
handicraft
together.
It
would
be
an
organized
association,
but
with
no
by-
laws,
no
president,
no
treasurer
or
board
of
directors.
All
equal,
side
by
side,
no
favored
places,
no
chosen
positions.
Of
course
there
would
be
order
but
it
would
be
the
discipline
of
friendship,
of
companionship,
of
consideration,
no
one
commanding
anyone
else.
What
Konstantin
requested
at
that
time,
was
that
we
never
register
it
officially.
It
must
be
a
free
society,
so
that
artists
could
come
and
go
as
they
please.
Would
you
like
to
display
your
artwork?
Be
at
the
right
prefixed
place
and
time
and
everything
should
be
just
fine.
Inscriptions?
What
for?
There
would
be
only
one
office,
that
of
the
coordinator.
This
was
because
some
one
was
needed
to
at
least
answer
the
telephone
and
give
information.
After
all
names
were
mentioned
and
weighed,
I
was
chosen
for
the
honor
of
being
this
“someone”.
There
was
no
vote.
It
was
just
decided.
The
story
about
the
exposition
isn’t
the
oldest
memory
I
have
of
Konstantin,
since
we
were
friends
back
when
we
were
students
at
the
North
Mineiro
Institute.
Students,
passing
in
front
of
his
house
on
Don
Juan
Pimenta
street,
and
he
giving
advice,
speaking
to
us
like
a
brother.
He
was
a
really
considerate
guy
to
the
young
men.
I
remember
watching
him
prepare
illustrations
for
magazines
From
Montes
Claros
and
Belo
Horizonte,
once
in
a
while
collaborating
with
commemorative
editions
of
whatever,
in
the
city’s
newspapers.
I
remember
him
as
a
doctor,
serious
and
celebrity,
at
the
city
emergency
room
in
the
Holy
House
Hospital,
a
surgeon
of
the
highest
caliber.
I
remember
the
consideration
that
all
the
young
marriage
aged
girls
had
for
him,
that
big
blond
guy,
fashionably
long
hair,
Arian
style
beard,
light
eyes,
the
Viking
sailor
look,
financially
well
off
already,
in
other
words,
the
ideal
type
of
son
in
law
that
any
mother
would
desire
for
her
daughter.
Life
continues,
and
Konstantin
Christoff
also
continues
in
the
history
of
Montes
Claros.
Always
admired,
always
loved,
an
icon
of
our
higher
art.
Painting,
sculpture,
drawing…growing
more
competent
each
day.
He
was
always
around
and
about
with
theorist
studies,
a
complete
artist,
stimulating
the
young,
criticizing
the
old
and
fossilized,
always
suggesting.
He
was
an
encyclopedia
of
the
arts
and
their
worth.
How
great
it
was
to
observe
two
great
artists
at
the
same
time,
Konstantin
and
Godofredo
Guedes,
at
Godo’s
studio
on
Rui
Barbosa
street.
One
complemented
the
other.
Godofredo
was
the
classicist,
academic,
the
rigorous
choice
of
color,
painting
always
from
left
to
right
and
from
top
to
bottom,
as
in
writing.
He
worked
like
a
modern
computer
color
printer.
Godo
would
never
let
the
details
escape,
however
small
they
may
be.
Not
Konstantin…
a
revolutionary,
an
iconoclast,
no
detail
whatsoever,
no
obedient
colors,
only
firm,
quick
brushstrokes,
in
an
almost
playful
manner.
Sometimes
he
would
do
caricature.
For
Godofredo,
Konstantin
was
a
crazy
genius,
an
anarchist.
But
how
he
admired
him!
The
time
passes
and
Konstantin
is
always
the
winner.
Someone
greater
than
a
master.
A
simple
signature
of
his
can
transform
an
ordinary
piece
of
paper,
an
empty
canvas,
into
a
work
of
art.
A
phenomenal
magician.
Well
received,
yesterday
and
today.
With
expositions
in
larger
cities
of
this,
and
other
countries,
he
has
become
a
favorite
of
the
specialized
press.
Our
pride!
Now
that
you
are
exhibiting
at
the
Event
Square
in
the
Montes
Claros
shopping
center,
I
salute
you,
my
brother
and
friend
Konstantin
Christoff!
