Oil paintings
“Innocence”, 2019, oil on canvas, 20” x 16”.
I didn’t want to paint another infant that makes people say: “Awe, how cute!” I want them to cringe and battle. An infant, beautiful and glowing, represents innocence and purity. The python symbolizes possible threat and demonstrates how fragile innocence is. But it is not aggressive, so may be it is tamed by the infants purity.
“Imposters in Religion”, 2020, oil on canvas, 28” x 22”
Influenced by Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Sex abuse scandal. A handsome priest preaches a young girl. Upon careful inspection we see a demon’s tail behind him. In our world MD is a doctor for body. To me, a priest is a doctor for soul. There are bad doctors, that’s just a fact. Unfortunately servants of God are all human, and “demons” might be among them as well, hiding behind Godly purpose. This work is not against religion, but against people, who desecrate it.
“Fate”, 2020, oil on canvas, 22” x 28”
The idea came to me a decade ago. A woman, who manipulates a person as a marionette, represents Fate. But in spite of all her control, the man is still trying to free himself from her ties.
“Soulmates”, 2021, oil on canvas, 30” x 24”
Many people do not notice that reflections are reversed. To me a true soulmate is the reflection of my inner world. The actual models are a brother and a sister. Have you noticed that true soulmates look alike, especially as they grow older? This idea made me choose models that were actually related to one another.
“Mother Nature”, oil on canvas, 30’’x40’’
The subject of global pollution is hardly new. However all images of Mother Nature I have seen are of romantic nature, full of greenery and blossoms. What if it’s not true? At least not for all places of our little and unique planet.
This composition lacks harmony - clear sky, no clouds, no birds, just empty blue space occupying the third of this painting. In contrast, we see a very busy remaining part. The model’s hair is blending into this landscape, perhaps the artist could choose a person with black hair, or paint it green (it is a Mother Nature after all!). But that’s the idea. This work is not about harmony and beauty and completeness. Just the opposite: it’s raw, bold and true (although the reality is even less pleasing to viewer’s eye).
“Monster Inside of Me”, 2022, oil on canvas, 36” x 24”
Every person has a dark side.While some contain it effortlessly with genuine kindness, others become trapped in a lifelong battle between mind and darkness. They are facing their inner monster every day, in dreams and in daylight, never knowing what the outcome will be…
When we hear about war, we always think it’s someone else’s war. It doesn’t affect us. But when I think about war, it is every part of me. There is nothing noble about wars, there is no glory. It is a crime against humanity which some people are committing willingly, while others are forced to commit it. What does it feel like to be a villain? A monster? A rapist? A victim? A wounded? A dead one? Here a viewer can see his/her face in every character of this painting by finding a key spot in front of this work of art.
“Faces Of War”, 2024, oil on concave canvas.
97x176cm Whose face does a war have? Is it stranger’s? Is it mine? Is it yours…
