Original artwork description:

The painting depicts a contemporary floral still life, combining elements of classical art and pop culture. At the center of the composition is a bouquet of lush flowers, reminiscent of a vintage painting or an antique tapestry.

However, on the same table, someone has left behind a mess: classic American Campbell's tomato soup, an open ketchup packet, smeared sauce, and dripping hot cheese. Slices of pizza and chips are even carelessly thrown onto the flowers. They, too, become part of the still life, adding a contemporary contrast to classical art.

It's a critique of contemporary culture. The contrast between the sublime, romantic image of flowers and the more base aspect of disorder. It's a blending of the beautiful and the mundane, characteristic of contemporary art.

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Irina:
For as long as I can remember, I've always been drawn to unconventional combinations and unexpected twists. In art, as in life, I dislike routine and predictability. The "Taste of Life" series is my experiment with contrasts, an attempt to look at everyday objects from a different perspective. In these still lifes, I combine the refined beauty of classical painting with the reality of the modern world. Lush bouquets inspired by vintage paintings sit alongside the trappings of consumer society - fast food, energy drinks, wrappers, and soda.

This dissonance is no accident. It reflects the duality of our existence, where high art intertwines with popular culture, and eternal values ​​with fleeting pleasures. I want the viewer to consider what we consume not only literally but also figuratively: information, impressions, emotions. Art must be relevant, reflect the pulse of the times, and evoke a lively response. This series of works is my call for dialogue about the balance between the beautiful and the mundane, about what it means to live in the here and now.

"The Taste of Life" is a reflection on how the transience of time and the temptations of modernity influence our perception of beauty.

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About artist:

Irina creates artworks in a decorative style, likes to experiment with materials: mosaics, precious stones, glass, paints, texture, etc.

Education:
- Paideia School of Contemporary Art (St. Petersburg, Russia).
- Lomonosov Northern Arctic Federal University (Arkhangelsk, Russia), a master's degree in psychology. Additional education: art therapy.

The artist participated in 23 exhibitions in the USA, Canada, Russia, China and Europe.

In addition, Irina was awarded the diplomas "Best Works of 2016", "Best Works of 2019", a special diploma for creativity (International Association VATIKAM, France, Paris) and Luxembourg Art Prize.

The artist has publications in the following magazines: LAZIN (UK), BONART Cultural, Girona (Spain), CONTEMPORAIN (France), Woman (Russia), Objectsmag (Rivista online indipendente, Italy), Poramoralarte (Spain), The News God (USA), GlamourBuff (USA), book You can become anyone you choose (VICTO, USA).

Irina's artworks are kept in the collections of ArtMuse Contemporary Art Museum (Russia, St. Petersburg) and Art Recycling Museum (Russia, Kaluga), Ecological Museum MUMUKA (Russia, Kaliningrad).

Irina's paintings are in private collections in 28 countries

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Materials used:

Acrylic paints. Canvas on a stretcher on a wooden panel

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