Yevgeny Ukhnalyov

Yevgeny Ilyich Ukhnalyov (Евгений Ильич Ухналёв; 4 September 1931 – 3 September 2015) was a Russian artist. He was a founding member of the Russian Guild of Heraldic Artists and the creator of many state symbols of modern Russia including its coat of arms. In 1997 he was awarded the People's Artist of Russia title.

Biography
Ukhnalyov was born in Leningrad (Saint Petersburg). He graduated from the visual arts school at Repin Institute of Arts in Leningrad and entered a Ship-Building Community College (судостроительный техникум). In 1948 Ukhnalyov was accused of planning to dig an underground tunnel from Leningrad to Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow to perform a terrorist act. Ukhnalyov was sentenced to 25 years subject to article 58, he was kept in the Kresty, then in the Vorkutlag. He was sent to Vorkuta labor camps where he worked in coal mines. After 6 years, he was released because "when committing the crime" he wasn't 18 years old. Later he worked as a designer in Sharashka in Kresty Prison in Leningrad.

On 22 June 1954, a year after the death of Joseph Stalin, Ukhnalyov was freed. He worked in a few design institutes, as well as did some book illustrations. In 1967 he found a job at the Hermitage Museum and soon became the chief architect of the museum. He worked there until 1975.

In 1992–1998 he worked for the State Heraldry at the President of Russia. Being on this position he designed many state symbols including: and many others.
 * Modern Coat of arms of Russia (adopted 30 November 1993);
 * The standard and the chain of the President of Russia;
 * Reinstated Order of St. Andrew (adopted July 1, 1998);
 * Order of Merit for the Fatherland 2nd class;
 * Order of Courage;
 * Official sign of the Governor of Saint Petersburg;
 * Medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg" and 60 Years since Lifting the Siege of Leningrad
 * Honoured Craftsman of the Russian Federation
 * Medal and diploma of the State Prize of the Russian Federation

Since 1998 Ukhnalyov has been working as the Leading Artist of the Hermitage Museum. As a painter he has participated in more than 40 exhibitions around the globe. His works are on display in the State Russian Museum in Anna Akhmatova museum and private collections.

Ukhnalyov designed the Memorial to the Victim of Political Repressions in Petrograd - Leningrad on in Saint Petersburg. The memorial is also known as the Solovetsky Stone. The monument is actually a 10-tonne granite boulder taken 50 meters from the place of mass executions of the prisoners of Solovki prison camp. The rock is set on a polished granite base with inscriptions "To prisoners of GULAG", "To victims of Communist Terror", "To Freedom Fighters" and a line from the "Requiem" poem of Anna Akhmatova: "I wish to call all of them by name" (Хотелось бы всех поименно назвать...) The monument was unveiled 4 September 2002 in preparation for celebrations of 300 years of Saint Petersburg. According to Solvki Encyclopedia Ukhnalyov and the architect of the memorial, State Duma deputy Yuly Rybakov, paid all the expenses personally including the transportation of the 10,400 kg boulder from the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea. The Saint Petersburg city administration would not help financing the memorial despite significant budget allocated to celebrate the tercentenary of the city.

Yevgeny Ukhnalyov died in his home in Saint Petersburg on 3 September 2015, the day before his 84th birthday. He continued to work as a Hermitage Museum staff member until his death.

Honours and awards

 * Jubilee Medal "50 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
 * Jubilee Medal "60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
 * Jubilee Medal "65 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
 * Medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg"
 * People's Artist of the Russian Federation