DDNEWS' pick for February: 'Angel'
This month, the Journal's pick is the first work of 2022 by the beautiful St Petersburg artisan Gulia Alexeeva - Angel. "The one and only", as the author calls it, is made of papier-mache (paper and paste) and a mixture of mass and ladol, 37 cm.
Gulia Alekseeva is a master of art dolls and a member of the Creative Union of Artists of St Petersburg (IFA).
She graduated from LGITMiK (now the Theatre Academy). Already a professional, working as a production designer, Gulya has been painting, drawing, creating collages and art objects. For a long time she did not dare to take up puppetry, but that situation changed with the appearance of Varvara Skripkina's Puppet Gallery in St. Petersburg. In addition, by chance, Gulya has participated in the creation of several puppet shows.
The artist's world of puppetry is a world of theatre, fairy tale and exquisite stylisation.
Gulia Alekseeva's characters invariably give the viewer something to think about, they are incredibly bright and charismatic. Their faces are joyful, thoughtful and sad, always filled with inner life and spirituality.
Her favourite material is papier-mâché, then plastic, which allows her to create complex sculptural forms. More recently, the artist has become interested in working with wood, which offers wonderful plastic possibilities.
Gulia Alekseeva is a master of exquisite stylisation. She fantasises, experiments, looks for new techniques, invents...
Says the artist:
My fantasies clearly interested me more than my everyday life. Perhaps that's why I became an artist. I was constantly rushing into the world of illusion to avoid being in the real world.
I have always wanted to do dolls. But I sincerely believed that it was beyond me. I graduated from a drama school and learned the profession of a set designer. Then I worked by profession in the Drama Theatre. True, not for long: at my request I was transferred to a puppet theatre. It was in Magnitogorsk city in 1970s. I continued my education at the Theatre Academy in Leningrad.
"I have always believed that an artist is nothing more than a performer. All the dolls I make have long existed in some other dimension. I just help them come into our world.
Characters Guli Alexeeva You can look at it endlessly, finding new details, experiencing fresh emotions. The artist has an army of fans. The master's work has won numerous awards, has a well-deserved place in the art world and is held in private collections all over the world.
Gulia is a master that I never tire of admiring, year after year my love for Gulia's work hasn't faded a bit, and my childlike delight and admiration hasn't faded for years. May there be more new and inspiring works!