Sergey Melnikoff, a landscape photographer of genius, has been a very hard worker throughout his life. Yet, not only his work ethic but his passion for the mysterious was what brought him to many unexplored parts of the world. The result is a unique collection of photographs of landscapes of the world, unparalleled in its striking beauty. This marvelous pictorial meditation on beauty and mystery of Nature is exhibited under the name “Wonders of the World”. For more than 30 years, Sergey Melnikoff spent wandering the roads of magnificent Earth, climbing its mountain ridges and its highest peaks. There is no longer any secret place on the planet that has not been visited by this man with a camera.

The photo paintings of “Wonders of the World” series are noted for their enormous size and for the stunning accuracy of the details, where even the smallest stone in the depth of the panorama can be seen, and where one can count every flower on the field of poppies. All of this is due to the absolute mastery of the artist, as well as due to the fact that he works on custom-made equipment – his two photo cameras weigh at least 75 pounds. Long-focal optics for panoramic cameras, are produced to special order by Fuji factory in Japan, and instead of series numbers the lenses have the name MELNIKOFF engraved on them.

Photographs, selected for exhibitions and public auctions, are a part of the artist’s collection that amounts to 300 thousand images. It is officially recognized as the most extensive collection of photographs by a single artist. Commercial value of these unique shots of world landscapes exceeds 300 million dollars. In regard to the art critics’ appraisal, certain works of the master have reached astronomical amounts of money. For example, “A Witch from Ladakh” is appraised by gallery owners at one million dollars. That being said, it is practically impossible to estimate the value of the entire collection, because the artist continually adds thousands of new slides, and one can always find new images that are unique in their beauty and photographic technology.

The audience is immediately transported into the world of crystal light and color vibrancy! The show is set up in a special format. The canvases are so large, it is hard to believe these are framed photographs. The rooms are dimmed out, and in the open space thin rays of light reveal the main details of the paintings, the rest – is up to one’s imagination. The music of great composers softly fills the rooms. Majestically, Nature herself has scattered the brilliant fairy tales of Kyrgyzstan along the exposition walls!

These exceptional images and the atmosphere of the mystique is what the exhibition “Wonders of the World” is all about.