July 22, 2010
The most compelling thing about Ivanoff's work is that he uses what could be regarded as, essentially, tat. Plastic fans, artificial fruit, glass jars of various sizes, and what looked like a large, fluorescent orange massage aid, are all amongst the items in his workshop. The first thing that caught my eye is a large mechanised elephant, made of all manner of things found in contemporary daily life, from washers, nuts and bolts, to what appear to be used film reels. Nicolas Hunt writes as an introduction to his friend’s exhibition, "Igor's technique is fed by the people's industrial garbage, sub-products of hi-tech existence and fast forgetting."
The works all have a strong sense of recalling the past. Greek mythology has clearly inspired many of them, and there is a strong underwater theme, with myriad fish, a turtle, and an octopus amongst the 'mosaics', and one work entitled 'The Capital of Poseidonia' that seems to have the shape of Poseidon's sceptre etched into it. This marrying of the old and enduring, and the very new and disposable, works especially well in the context of the artist's home country, Russia, where much of his work is on display at galleries in his hometown of St. Petersburg.
There's a roughness to the work: the component parts of the octopus have been stuck together with still-visible glue, which seems to be there for effect, rather than due to carelessness. It isn't common; other works are clean and polished but, in this case, the glue strands give the octopus' legs and head a slimy, flowing quality that brings the art closer to the octopus' life as a sea creature without omitting a nod to the myths surrounding it (I was reminded of the Kraken, but perhaps I've seen Pirates of the Caribbean too often).
The artwork will not be to everyone's taste; it’s certainly not as pretty in the same way as a soothing watercolour of the countryside. However, there is a beauty, as with some modern architecture, in its sharp, austere lines. Practically, it is less the kind of thing I would display in my living room, had I a few (hundred) pounds spare, and more the kind that could work well on an outdoor wall or in the garden.
The works are almost all for sale, at between £900 and £1,350 each, although a series of prints are also available, as well as postcards, so that all budgets and levels of adoration for the work are accommodated!
The exhibition runs until 25th July at the Oxford Town Hall Gallery (open 9am-6pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sunday), and you can take in the Architecture of Still Life photography exhibition by Igor Bernstein and Vera Novitskaya whilst you're there.
The works all have a strong sense of recalling the past. Greek mythology has clearly inspired many of them, and there is a strong underwater theme, with myriad fish, a turtle, and an octopus amongst the 'mosaics', and one work entitled 'The Capital of Poseidonia' that seems to have the shape of Poseidon's sceptre etched into it. This marrying of the old and enduring, and the very new and disposable, works especially well in the context of the artist's home country, Russia, where much of his work is on display at galleries in his hometown of St. Petersburg.
There's a roughness to the work: the component parts of the octopus have been stuck together with still-visible glue, which seems to be there for effect, rather than due to carelessness. It isn't common; other works are clean and polished but, in this case, the glue strands give the octopus' legs and head a slimy, flowing quality that brings the art closer to the octopus' life as a sea creature without omitting a nod to the myths surrounding it (I was reminded of the Kraken, but perhaps I've seen Pirates of the Caribbean too often).
The artwork will not be to everyone's taste; it’s certainly not as pretty in the same way as a soothing watercolour of the countryside. However, there is a beauty, as with some modern architecture, in its sharp, austere lines. Practically, it is less the kind of thing I would display in my living room, had I a few (hundred) pounds spare, and more the kind that could work well on an outdoor wall or in the garden.
The works are almost all for sale, at between £900 and £1,350 each, although a series of prints are also available, as well as postcards, so that all budgets and levels of adoration for the work are accommodated!
The exhibition runs until 25th July at the Oxford Town Hall Gallery (open 9am-6pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sunday), and you can take in the Architecture of Still Life photography exhibition by Igor Bernstein and Vera Novitskaya whilst you're there.