Mural (Russia)
Pigment on plaster
95x89cm
"I wanted to paint a woman that represents what Russia means to me now... the typical woman"
Russia
Ulyana comments, "I wanted to paint a woman that represented what Russia means to me now: a country that is quite young in terms of the current world political stage, but she is strong, with an aura of experience and solidity that comes from being grounded in real-life hardships. She is not a spoiled romantic but in essence dreamy and spiritual with a strong temprament. She is the typical woman.
In this representation she is pulling Russia out of her past, moving through its life and history, going in her own direction.
On the right are political, religious, business and scientific influences: Putin, a Nobel prize winner, the Head of the Orthodox Church, the Group Chief Executive of BP and a far-left communist party leader. They are surrounded by her most beautiful architecture, cathedrals and admiralty. A white lion with its paw on the ball behind Putin represents power.
Peter the Great, known for "cutting open
the window to Europe", sits on his horse at the bow facing the oncoming
flow of the river.
 |
In the boat, on the left are her cultural icons: Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. They are surrounded by traditional homes. Lenin, in his most famous pose, stands at the back of the boat facing the past. A small peasant women sits at the back, representing folk culture. The people and their cultural icons are a significant part of Russia's momentum but in this scene, oars pull in many directions. |
Detail
"in this scene, oars pull in many directions"
Detail: Reflection
In the reflection you can see the flow of history.
From left-to-right: Stalin points at the past in his traditional gesture from his tribune, behind him is Rasputin then a blind-folded family - the last Czars family - shot by the communists.
Peter the Great, armed and dynamic, points forward with blind-folded people behind him - the high cost of change.
Catherine the Great and her Courtiers are followed by the 12th Century Countess Olga, mourning the death of her husband (she was a poetic symbol of the time).
Two stout figures on horseback represent the military. Chapaev, on the white horse, became a legend of Russia's military bravery - the most ruthless and fearless head of partisan movement. Not an army leader, but "for the people". The other horseman is Alexander Nevsky, leader of the army famous for defeating the "indestructible" Tutonic Knights.
Soldiers in traditional dress-code represent the huge defensive force that Russia demonstrated against its aggresors.
Ivan the Terrible is seen at the moment of realisation that he has just killed his son.
Finally, a small woman represents the persecution of the "old believers" (Staroveri).
Detail
"Ivan the Terrible is seen at the moment of realisation that he has just killed his son"
| This procession of history and progress is set against the grim reality of Russia, where 70% of the wealth is owned by 10% of the people. Rubbish floats past (broken bottles of the past are replaced by coke cans), stray dogs share the same hopeless expression as an alchoholic woman with cigarette. A poor granny stuck with her grandkids, locked in poverty, are onlookers - not able to participate in the procession. |  |
The building in the background is from Vasylievsky Island in St. Petersburg. Within this poverty still appears the stunning Mariinsky Theatre ballet but Cupid (a Western creation) is pulling the curtain. It has opened this culture to the world to go in and watch but also closes it for the local people."
Detail
"stray dogs share the same hopeless expression as an alchoholic woman"
Detail