This series of oil paintings is a deeply personal exploration of my childhood experiences growing up in an impoverished post-soviet village. I began working on these paintings in 2011 as a way to process and reflect on the memories and emotions that were still lingering from my childhood. These paintings were created during evenings after coming home from my day job, as a form of catharsis and self-expression.
The paintings are heavily influenced by the history of photography, specifically Victorian daguerreotypes. I was drawn to the stark contrast, eerie lighting and the sense of nostalgia that these early photographs evoke. In my paintings, I used these techniques to create a sense of darkness and mystery, reflecting the gloomy and oppressive atmosphere of my childhood. The paintings are a visual representation of the memories and emotions I experienced growing up in a post-soviet village, where poverty and isolation were a daily reality.