Original artwork description:

In this artwork, I explore the fusion of the celestial and the human, intertwining surrealism with symbolic elements. I used acrylic, collage, and tempera to craft faces that reflect the vastness of space and the depth of human emotion. It's a dialogue between the known and the unknown, capturing the spirit of exploration both within and beyond ourselves. This piece invites the viewer to ponder the cosmic dance between our inner world and the outer universe.
This work reflects on a new mythology of the 20th century, inspired by space exploration. It is about Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Terechkova, the first man and woman to fly into space, like Adam and Eve of the new cosmic era.
I experiment with cultural codes: fresco painting and icons, indigenous masks, Russian avant-garde painting and the scientific illustration of astronomical atlases.
The text reproduces Gagarin's own words:
"I looked at the spaceship in which I was to embark on an unprecedented journey. It was beautiful, more beautiful than a locomotive, a steamer, an aeroplane, all the palaces and bridges in the world. I thought its beauty would be immortal. I had before me not only a remarkable technical creation, but also an impressive work of art.
"I was sick with something that has no name among men of Art: nostalgia for Space."

Materials used:

Tempera, acrylic, collage

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