Toy Tale
The tradition of my homeland seen through the eyes of modernity
The study of ancient Russian folk figurative traditions has led to a progressive deconstruction of the figure, giving rise to an expressive language close to neo-primitivism. The Mezen tradition places at its centre the symbolic figure of the red horse, a recurring and strongly evocative element surrounded by geometric decoration. These motifs refer to an archaic symbolism linked to the natural elements and to the ideas of fertility and the cyclical nature of life.
The Dymkovo style, by contrast, is associated with clay figurines characterised by soft, rounded forms. Their generally white surfaces are enriched with lively geometric motifs and the decorative use of gold, as in the work King of the Forest.
Filimonovo also belongs to the world of clay figurines, but is distinguished by slender, elongated figures and a particularly intense, brilliant palette.
