Elena Makarov

Artist Statement

Art critics sometimes note that artist’s sculptures embrace Elena’s background (MA) in different types of literature such as international folk tales, fairytales and classic literature; and tell stories that have been probably influenced by artist’s favorite art works of Dali, Chagall, Bosch and Miro, Literature by Brothers Grimm, Hesse, Kafka’s novellas and Dostoevsky, Bunin and Bulgakov. Elena draws from a rich multidisciplinary background and her artist’s style might be considered as attempts of ‘impressionism ‘or ‘fantastic impressionism’ or ‘fantastic surrealism’ influenced and embracing theories and works of Sartre existentialism and Dali’s surrealism.

One can find inner meaning of Artist’s whimsical creations to reach out to our roots of fears and inner controversies, that take roots from childhood, fighting our childhood fears and at the same time finding solace in them; exploring the nature of femininity, modern stereotypes, and new archetypes of femininity starting from our inner childhood memories of the first walk in the forest, first swim in the ocean, first taste of grandmother’s apple pie and ice cream, first story of a fairy tale that has been read at nighttime, even first nightmare experienced in a sleep. Artist’s signature ‘Elena Ya makes tribute to her fraternal grandmother, who first taught Elena to love nature and seek to reach out to so many hidden secrets and treasures in it.