Artist Statement
Art is my refuge from external conditions and the medium through which I explore my
emotions. I have a personal score to settle with Death, which has taken some of my loved
ones, including my unborn child. I see art as a weapon to fight mortality, just like science,
and I use art to explore vulnerable life, the body, and scientific efforts to achieve immortality.
Years of formal training in fine art, contemporary art and theatre design gave me
a love of the Baroque. Like now, the Baroque epoch was a period of scientific discovery,
opulence and excess. Revolutionary research of that time laid foundations for the modern
disciplines of anatomy, biology, astrophysics, and information technology. My practice
considers current projects to overcome mortality, like organ cloning and space exploration,
whilst looking back to see how Baroque artists engaged with the innovations of their day.
In this time of social, political and ecological upheaval, I find comfort in the Baroque masters’
materials and layered techniques of painting, which have endured the test of time. Following
their strict method for each work, I make a compositional sketch, followed by a drawing, and
then I make a grisaille in a brown-white tone. Only then do I apply a layer of colour, if
necessary. It is a slow, labour-intensive method, but it achieves that fleshy materiality of
Baroque painting allows me to enlarge biological fragments to make large paintings.
Romeo Castellucci’s theatrical avant-garde has
deeply inspired my process, as well as vivid installation art by Katja Novitskova, organic
installations by Anya Gallaccio, and the earth-body performances by Ana Mendieta.
We are now learning about the extensive assistance that some of the old masters received
from talented and innovative women, like Artemisia Gentileschi. This discovery challenges
the myth of individual genius and invites us to appreciate the power of collaboration –
something we need now more than ever. Having worked in theatre design for over ten years,
I appreciate the joy and power of teamwork and I am honoured to have collaborated with
some incredible artists, designers, scientists and performers.
Bio
I am a London-based visual artist who is deeply inspired by the Baroque epoch and its parallels with the contemporary moment. As a child born during the Chernobyl Disaster, I have always been fascinated by the quest for immortality through science and art, and the vulnerability and strength of the body. My background in Baroque painting and theatre design has heavily influenced my contemporary art practices, allowing me to create bold and punkish works that are not afraid to tackle contemporary issues.
My aim is to make painting popular again, just like it was in the Baroque times, creating works that leave a lasting impression and provide catharsis. Drawing inspiration from fashion icons like Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, I seek to push the boundaries of painting and make it a relevant and contemporary art form.
I obtained my BFA in painting, MFA in stage and costume design at Surikov Art Institute in Moscow, and a degree in contemporary painting at Moscow’s Institute of Contemporary Art Issues (CAI) in 2012. I was also awarded a PhD in Theatre Design from the Department of Painting at the Russian Art Academy in Moscow, where I designed 80 costumes for a production of Hamlet at the Central Academic Theatre.
Since moving to London in 2019, I have continued to paint with oils on large canvases, often spilling over the limits of the canvas to break the fourth wall between art and viewer. My experiments in installation art, painting on clothes, and interactive performance have allowed me to expand my artistic horizons and create truly immersive experiences for audiences.
I am an active participant in the London art scene, with my most recent exhibition being a solo show at Hampstead Art School in April 2023. I am constantly seeking to challenge myself and push the boundaries of what is possible with painting, and I hope to continue to do so for many years to come.
My Method
As a multimedia artist, I am interested in different media and topics. After long consideration of how to correctly share it, I have decided to divide them into three different paths. I have created three completely different characters every one of which has its own topics and media in art practice in art, every one of them wears their own clothes or has their own make-up. Thus, Sasha Snow, Baroque anarchist and Alex S were born. Whenever I am into a new topic I decide which of three artists is going to work with it.
SASHA SNOW
Sasha Snow is an artist who works with Urban mythology. Futurism, utopia and dystopia as well as modern storytelling, exploring urban subcultures and shifting positive and negative stereotypes is the feature of her art practice. She often collaborates with street artists, to explore the aesthetic of urban art and mix it with art history. Also, she is interested in NFT and anime art.
Her recent project 'Baroque Anarchy' was her cooperation with Simon Harris. The idea of this project was to collaborate with London urban artists to enrich both subcultures such as fine art and urban art. '' My aim was to take out fine art from galleries and museums and bring them to the streets of London, integrate it into an urban ambience and show it to the wide public. On the other side, I want to bring street art into galleries and museums and by it prolong its life. I was shocked when I realized that the overage life of urban artwork is just three days.''- says Sasha about this project.
Collaboration with London street artist Laststandcell, Banksy tunnel, 2021
Crypto Baroque Anarchist, NFT, 2021
BAROQUE ANARCHIST
Baroque anarchist is an artist and person who has personal counts with Death. she is like a soldier who knows that the battle is lost from the beginning but however still stays on the battlefield till the last breath. So, Baroque anarchist believes that the very weapon they can conquer death is art. Thus, they use materials proven by time like oil and canvas.
Also, the luxury of objects and details are very con objects, details are important like things and objects often live after the death of their owners or creators.
ALEX S
Alex S art practice draws from the theatre aesthetic. This artist has worked for 14 years at the biggest theatre in the world. He was mesmerized by the beauty of this enormous dark building. His art is based on the idea of friendly darkness like the embryo feels in a women's belly. Darkness is safe and comfortable and he is in darkness. The primary /instruments and materials are ephemeral- space, contrast lighting. He's interested in creating magic space and integrating there an object or a human being. his goal is to create a catharsis
