Artist Statement
I find myself in a world full of grief and misfortune from which there is no way out. The state of happiness and prolonged satisfaction is just a fantasy in the eyes of an experienced individual. I perceive life as a giant hoax, illusion, deception; a tragedy which destroys the will to live. I shudder witnessing horror of incredible deprivation, torment, and suffering of each individual. Here, on earth, is the place for confession and redemption. This world is like a correctional facility. In my paintings, everyone exists due to their sinfulness.
Just like everyone, I ended up in this transitory place full of spiritual deformity not by choice. As an artist, I see my purpose, like that of a church, salvation. My paintings are saturated with pathos of Orthodox Christianity. My goal is to concentrate my attention on contemplation and inner rebirth. I believe that, in order to reach purity and serenity, one has to free oneself from any attachments or aversions, master control over oneself and restrain one's passions. When that is achieved, one finds refuge from sorrow and evil.
In my work I study human vices, such as malice and foolishness. This misanthropy is similar to that of Bosch's. It is directed toward all humanity. It is entirely different from hostility to a specific individual. It is always a noble indignation which is possible only in realization that a better nature is possible. My paintings reveal innate spirit and survivalist instinct of humans.
Most of all I like to paint human faces, humans and their surroundings. On my paintings everything carries equal importance. A little pebble on the background is as significant as the front figures. Everything, even inanimate objects carry an emotional message. Photographically precise depiction of the world does not interest me. I leave that task to photographers. I am repulsed by naturalism and regard it as prostitution. It is all about material and substance, while I aspire in my art to spirituality. Nor do I derive satisfaction from portrayal of glamorous facades of faces or romantic scenes of nature. For me a face is like a book. If there's nothing written on it, it does not appeal to me. I am interested not just in the outward appearance, not just the face of the clock, but its mechanism and motion. I attempt to depict the inner essence of a human. I am concerned not with the reflection of life, but the life itself. Through my art, I seek to discover its enigmatic meaning.