ILLUSION  /  REALITY

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The paintings of the Reflections on Black series are painted in oil on metal. As models I use objects I made from reflective materials. Working on compositions of multi-layered, distorted reflections in space, I study the similarities between hyperrealistic and abstract painting.

The creation of this series was inspired by the masterpieces of Dutch 17th century painters. As Adriaen Coorte, Willem Claesz. Heda and Willem Kalf did in their still lifes, in my works I pay special attention to conveying the texture of the depicted objects. And I aim to give these objects the properties of animated characters of allegorical narratives.

The main theme of my paintings: “Human perception of the surrounding world: how our psyche distorts reality in order to create an illusion that is more convenient for us to perceive. In his philosophical “Allegory of the Cave” Plato describes the way humans perceive the world as illusory, deceptive and not conveying the true essence of things. The questions that I bring to the attention of the viewer are: “How can this theory manifest itself nowadays, in the era of globalization and information technology? And, if this theory is confirmed, then what is subjectively true, undistorted reality for each of us?”

 

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REFLECTIONS

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Ever since I graduated from the Amsterdam Classical Academy of Arts in 1999,

I never stopped experimenting with different art materials. To create the paintings in this series, I chose to paint in oil on polished, copper and aluminum sheets. The idea behind working on such smooth, mirror-like surfaces is that the viewer can focus their attention both on the depiction of shiny forms and on fragments of their own reflection on the unpainted parts of the metal. Michelangelo Pistoletto and Douglas Gordon used the reflection of the viewer as a constituent element of their compositions. I want to immerse the viewer into the space of my work to such an extent that he may begin to look for his reflection not only in the unpainted metal, but also in the mirror objects depicted in the painting.

Close contemplation is one of the main tasks of most meditation practices. And the paintings of this series I created precisely as objects for meditation.

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You can find more of my paintings

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on Instagram:

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ANTON SHIRKIN C.V:

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Education:

2007-2008 HKU Unuvercity of Arts Utrecht, Utrecht.

1994-1999 Ruudt Wackers Academy of fine arts, Amsterdam.

1987-1990 Academic Art Lyceum, Moscow.

 

 

Selected solo exhibitions:

2022  “Happy Portraits Amsterdam”, Amsterdam, solo exhibition.

2019  Gallery HOF212, Driebergen-Rijsenburg, the Netherlands.

2016 & 2017  Chalet La Bergerie, Courchevel 1850, France.

2013  Gallery Venetiae "Portrais of the Facelesses", Amsterdam.

2012  Gallery IG, Paris.

2012  Gallery RudolfV, Amsterdam.

2011  Gallery The Thouds, Amsterdam.

2010  “De Nieuwe Anita”, Amsterdam.

2009  “Moulin d’Ande”, Ande, France.

2008  Glass Gallery, London.

2004  Gallery De Vrijplaats, Amsterdam.

2003  “Let’s do it!”, Amsterdam.

2002  Gallery Medea, Rotterdam.

2001  “Home exhibition Apollolaan”.

2000  Gallery Donkersloot, Amsterdam.

1999  City Hall Purmerend, The Netherlands.

1994  City Hall Amsterdam.

 

 

Selected group exhibitions:

2015 & 2016  Wackers Academy, Amsterdam.

2013  Gallery Venetiae, Amsterdam.

2012  Gallery RudolfV, Amsterdam.

2005 & 2006  “Kunst aan de Kade”, Rotterdam.

2003  Gallery De Vrijplaats, Amsterdam.

2003  “Let’s do it!”, Amsterdam.

 

 

Art Fairs:

2012  Realiesme, Amsterdam.

2008  Realiesme, Amsterdam.

2008  Art Salon, Moscow.

2007  Art Manege, Moscow.

2007  Art Salon, Moscow.

2006  Millionaire Fair, Moscow.

2006  Art Salon, Moscow.

2005  Art Salon, Moscow.

2004  Kunst Event, Antwerp, Rotterdam.

2003  Kunst Event, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Haarlem.

 

 

Museums:

2007  Geelvink-Hinlopenhuis, Amsterdam, group exhibition.

2006  Stad Appingendam, Appingendam, solo exhibition.

 

 

TV:

2008  “Stars on Canvas”, The Netherlands.

2005  “International Art Club”, Russia.

2000  “Business Class”, The Netherlands.