Val Limonadov Home Alone
At the end of the 20th century, a rather specific fear arose in the public consciousness. A fear that was not familiar to our ancestors - of being left home alone and snatched by aliens. Experiencing this specific fear, a person becomes very suspicious of every detail – every rustle seems to be a sign of approaching monsters. A slimy pink mass, representing alien life, filled the entire house. Most likely, the mass has taken on the appearance of a girl. Her face looks inhuman, as do her clothes. I always feel like somebody's watching me… and it turned out to be true.

Val Limonadov Strong Bonds
Val Limonadov is an artist fascinated by paradoxes. By exploring them with a surrealist style, he finds unique plots. The painting Strong Bonds creates a feeling of strong emotional tension. Mystical mutant figures resembling a human and a bird snake are entwined with each other. The scrutinizing gazes of both are directed at us. However, the visual component of the painting, the choice of colors, blunt the sinister nature of the figures and glamorize them. The artist combines two completely opposite ideas, thereby blurring each of their most distinctive features.

Val Limonadov Exercise
In his work, the artist likes to reflect on the urgent problems of modern society and does so in an absolutely unique manner. As if an illusionist, he plays on psychological phenomena and subconscious delusions. The exercise is a work - primarily of the mental, inner state of a person. Mythical, friendly-looking creatures, which the artist has scattered across the painting, represent our inner monsters. To tame them, to get along with them, to make them nice and friendly, requires huge effort.

Val Limonadov Swimming pool
The interplay of intricate images in Val Limonadov’s paintings is mesmerizing. The artist likes to play with the ideal images of modern consumer society by mixing them with chimeras and phantoms. This work perfectly illustrates it. Dream house with palm trees and a large swimming pool, a young girl in a bikini. A perfect life. What could be better? But as we get closer, we see that the girl's face is twinned with a sneering grimace, and by her side are snide baby dolls. Once again, we are deceived by our illusions.

Val Limonadov Skullball
Horror is one of the most popular movie genres. It evokes a sense of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty in the audience and creates a tense atmosphere of dread or agonizing expectation of something terrible – the proverbial suspense. The most terrible events to us are those that break into everyday life, disrupting its smooth flow. Val Limonadov achieved exactly this impression in his painting Skullball. Despite the lovely view of houses, lawns, and carefree playing girls, something ominous is foreboding. The skull flying through the air is only a harbinger of the coming horror.

Val Limonadov Skin of bear with six paws
The cynical feeling that current times evoke is akin to that of a tourist looking around at an alien world on tour. The still-short postmodern era has had its share of challenges. News reports bombard us with new incidents. A volcanic eruption, a parliamentary session, the birth of new lions in the zoo, a drought, a tornado - everything blends into a single tangle. Human emotions are squeezed to the max. We are caught between harsh realism and dreams of the impossible, feeling presence and absence at the same time. All that remains is escaping into a personal experience. This escapism allows us to stay sane as the world goes through one catastrophe after another.

Val Limonadov Expectation
In his signature style, artist Val Limonadov combines reality and surrealistic motifs, which do not interfere with each other but instead contribute to the main plot. In childhood, many things are unknown and seem somehow mystical and magical. The world is constantly changing; even a harmless switch can turn off the light and release monsters hiding in the apartment's dark corners. The unknown is both frightening and alluring. The imagination, saturated with expectations, paints incredible pictures. Life is full of unsolved mysteries.

Aslan Orazaev The Architect
First, we look at him and get to know him. The next moment, we start exploring the world through his thick and blurry eyeglasses. That happens in a blink; the pace slows down. He is the man who sees beyond the obvious. In complete silence, he teaches us to observe, learn, explore, and, most likely, avoid unnecessary arguments.
 

Aslan Orazaev Hell of a Rabbit
An extraordinary bunny with strong human emotions. Emotions one can relate to at a certain time and in circumstances. Aslan Orasaev is grasping the moment in his act of pure improvisation, creating a grotesque character in a grotesque setting. The background story is deliberately omitted. The plot twist is up to one’s imagination.

Aslan Orazaev The Smugglers
A guilty mind is never at ease. A guilty conscience gives itself away. While red is associated with danger, it is also a symbol of strength, shedding new light on the nature of moral worth. In art discourse it is all about pursuing a flash of objective truth in the subjective darkness.

Aslan Orazaev Diana the Huntress

Aslan Orasaev is an artist capable of turning a minimalistic graphic portrait into a real work of art. The author skillfully chooses features that help to convey the mood. Female portraits of this artist are filled with tenderness and admiration of female beauty. His Diana the Huntress merges with nature, lurking in the haze of the forest thicket. The artist reverently outlines the features of her chin, lips, and eyes. Sensual gestures accentuated sexuality. The heroine is a hunter for men's hearts; her charm is deadly, and she leaves no chance.

Aslan Orazaev The Baron
Is that Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Terry Gilliam? No, it's Black Cat, White Cat by Emir Kusturica. Or maybe it's both? Artist Aslan Orasaev pays tribute to both films, released in 1998. He presents Kusturica's character, Gypsy Baron Grga Pitić, depicted as Raoul Duke from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The movies have no direct connection; these stories are about different people in completely different societies. Yet the author sees a connection between them – the infinite chaos, charisma, and energy. A piece for true cinema fans.

Aslan Orazaev Scarlet
In the painting, Scarlet artist Aslan Orasaev presents a tender and sensual image of a young girl. Bright red hair, delicate forms, playful smile. The artwork gives a feeling of spring romance, sensuality, and eroticism, as if a romantic night has turned into something more. The artist amazingly conveys sounds and smells in his painting - muffled relaxing music plays in the distance, and the room is filled with the scent of flowers and fresh linen. The intimacy of the moment is almost disturbing; the author is sharing an intimate, treasured memory. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Aslan Orazaev Mr. Fcuk
Hello! How are you? London is the capital of Great Britain. We meet Mr. Fcuk in some alleyway. Looking for a pub, we call him. Mr. Fcuk looks friendly, a big grin on his face, puffing on a cigarette. An impeccable suit and a dandy top hat. The gin vapors coming off him hint that he's already had a few cocktails on the way here. But our bad English and the fog in the head makes it hard to find the right words. Having failed to explain ourselves to each other, we gesture goodbye to Mr. Fcuk. Whistling something, he goes his way. The only question on your mind is ""Hwat the fcuk?""

Konstantin Lupanov Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Ieri, Oggi, Domani (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow) is a 1963 film by the great Italian director Vittorio De Sica. The main roles were played by Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren. The movie consists of three comedy novels about Italian women and their ability to achieve what they want with their sexual attractiveness. The painting by Konstantin Lupanov captures a moment from the first novel "Adelina of Naples" – a comic story about a woman constantly getting pregnant to not go to prison. The painting depicts Adelina (Sophia Loren) thoughtfully preparing a meal in a small old kitchen.

Konstantin Lupanov Phillip, Innocent and I
All cat owners know or at least suspect that these wayward animals bring a lot of luck. A cat is a conductor of energy, connecting our world with the beyond. Therefore, it is important to be on good terms with your cat. Of course, the artist Konstantin Lupanov knew this, so he did not fail to bring a cat for a self-portrait. Everyone in the picture, the painted man, the cat, and the artist himself, have a lost look. It seems that they do not know what brought them here. Perhaps the viewer can help answer this question.

Konstantin Lupanov My friend's friend is a cat
Konstantin Lupanov is an artist known for his fascinating interpretations and unexpected turns. He likes to play with perception and surprise the audience. This work is a perfect example. At first, the painting gives the impression of an ordinary still life; we see fruit, champagne glasses, and tea mugs. All this establishes a rather languid atmosphere. Suddenly, a ginger cat bursts into it, and now it is a vivid life. The emotions of the cat, surprise, and slight fright contrast sharply with the objects on the table. Thus, the artist creates the desired effect – the objects on the table are skillfully hidden in plain sight. Once you notice the cat, it is hard to take your eyes off it.

Konstantin Lupanov Still life
Konstantin Lupanov is an artist who masterfully plays with imagination, which allows him to create vibrant, memorable images. This still life is done in dark tones, the cast of silver and gold, and impeccable colors. Two figures, a young couple and a young woman in loose clothes, stand a little further away and look at the viewer. However, the idyll is disturbed by the hand lifting the pot lid. The author brings life into the still-life painting, creating a certain surrealistic feeling. The hand looks much more distinct and seems to invade this blurred, dreamlike space.

Konstantin Lupanov Roses
Konstantin Lupanov is an artist with a witty sense of humor who does not hesitate to use it in his art. The piece Roses, a self-portrait of the artist while painting, is a satire on his art. The author is presented in a sly image – a pose bent, a devious expression on his face, layers of clothing, and a red hood on his head. At the same time, his bare foot is on the easel, on which stands a painting of exquisite, delicate pink roses. The contrast is perplexing. It's not hard to imagine the author painting this one while barely containing his laughter.
 

Konstantin Lupanov Today I dreamed of Paris
Today I dreamed of Paris by Konstantin Lupanov is an eclectic mix of images the author associates with Paris. A brightly lit cafe with a chessboard floor awaits our move. It is the only solid and stable thing here. Everything else is blurred, confusing, and vague. Only the contours of people and objects are tangible. A figure of the man in the red sweater, a mother and a child at the opposite table, and the street in the windows elude us. Even the face of an elderly man in the foreground, who looks very much like a clochard, eludes us. Paris is a city full of faces that whiz by in a hurry to get somewhere; it's hard to distinguish even one of them. Paris sera toujours Paris.

Lyudmila Baronina Man and Poppy
Lyudmila Baronina once again sends us to a biology class. Inspired by the sketches of evolutionary biologists, the author introduces a topic on botany and anatomy - Man and Poppy. We see drawings of a poppy at different stages of maturation, as well as a cross-bred species of Homo Papáver. It is hard to imagine under what conditions man was cross-bred with the poppy, and the circumstances must have been quite entertaining. The new species was filled with poppy seed, and the body ran on it.  The head took the form of a flower that had not yet opened, and the rest looked usual.

Lyudmila Baronina The Rose
Lyudmila Baronina is an artist who creates in the surrealist genre. She likes to surprise the audience with vivid and catchy images. The artwork Rose creates an impression of a schoolchild's fantasy, dozing off in a biology class after a good lunch. The spring sun, the stuffiness of the classroom, and the teacher’s monotonous voice are about to put you to sleep. The lecture, textbook illustrations, and fantasy characters from computer games are woven into a bizarre plot. Pretty soon, the lesson will be over, and the bell and classmates' noise will wake the dreamer. The brightly colored roses and barbed wire will dissolve. The fantasy character will lose his thorns and greenish hue and turn back into the biology teacher.

Lyudmila Baronina The Carnation
The mention of carnation, or dianthus, dates back to the ancient Greeks. In fact, a famous Greek botanist, Aristotle’s student, Theophrastus, coined the name of this species. It comes from the ancient Greek words for divine ("Dios") and flower ("anthos"). The name "carnation" is believed to come from the Latin corona-ae, a " wreath, garland, chaplet, crown," as it was one of the flowers used in Greek and Roman ceremonial crowns. The artist pays tribute to the majestic history of this flower by depicting the carnation as an elegant and dignified lady deserving to be put on a pedestal.
 

Lyudmila Baronina Windows 20
Windows 20 is a mystical and multi-layered piece of art by Lyudmila Baronina. The title refers to the new version of the operating system from the famous software company. You can recognize the famous brand in the windows. The new version of Windows was released at the very peak of the Covid quarantine, which is also reflected in the painting. A lonely man in a darkroom is surrounded by fears and chimeras. A ghost, giant dragonflies in gas masks, and the shadow of an ominous tree invade the room. The image is complete with a signature anatomical figure, with removed skin hanging on the mirror. The painting is full of small details, such as a man from a medieval illustration of Avicenna's book, bottled and held by the skinned figure.

Lyudmila Baronina In the Kingdom of Mermaids
Few people want to think about what happens to a person who fell overboard on the high sea. When the ship has left, turning into a silent dot on the horizon, when desperate attempts to swim have only wasted the last bits of strength, when thirst is unbearable, they come. It's not at all as beautiful and welcoming as the legends tell. Vulgar, drunken, vicious mermaids. Before sinking to the bottom and giving his soul to Poseidon, the poor guy spends his last minutes in the kingdom of mermaids. A terrible fate.

Lyudmila Baronina Merry-go-round
Lyudmila Baronina is an artist unafraid of bold images. She does not shy away from exposing vices and likes to combine absolutely unimaginable things. The painting Merry-Go-Round is a perfect example. The merry-go-round, associated with a carefree childhood, is overtaken by vulgar, drunken men. The artist depicts them in an absolutely mindless, bestial state. Alcohol has driven them to utter madness, and they vomit all over themselves. The scene’s background is a soft pink sky and yellow clouds. Lyudmila Baronina, in her ironic style, reminds us that a human is capable of denigrating the most innocent things.

Vladimir Kolesnikov Moonlit night