Vladimir Grig / The “Transition” series

‘Transition’ series 

2007–2023 

Paper, canvas, gel pen, watercolour, acrylic, video projection

Courtesy of the Gridchinhall Gallery

The liminal state between imagination and reality, dream and reality, past and future – this is a key theme in Vladimir Grig’s work. Drawing on the traditions of Soviet book illustration, 1950s to 1960s print design, and science fiction, he creates his own multiverse in which the characters transcend the boundaries of space and time, travelling through eras and cultural layers. This rich diversity of spaces, heroes and symbols naturally includes retro-futuristic images: pioneers disappearing into an inter-dimensional portal; high-tech factories by the standards of the past; and utopian worlds.

The key work in the ‘Transition’ series is ‘Saturn’. The artist recreates the nostalgic image of summer movie theatres from his childhood. "We weren’t allowed in there, but we climbed trees and watched films anyway, and another world opened up before us," recalls Vladimir Grig. The intense light from the screen and the unexpectedly abstract pattern hypnotise and draw the viewer into another dimension. The author notes that cinemas were often called ‘out of this world’ during the Soviet era, and this takes on a symbolic meaning here.