In his new project, Ilya Fedotov Fedorov continues his studies of his own identity and otherness in the context of relations between the natural and human worlds. He creates new images with blurred boundaries between a person and everything that can be referred to as different, or other. The artist questions the idea of normality imposed by society and invites the viewers to watch this issue from a different perspective. In his works, Ilya considers the matters of bodily transformation, masking, and otherness - through the use of animals as a metaphor of humans’ disconnectedness.
The artistic series UNDER THE LAYER speaks of rivalry and exposure. It is a statement about everyone having the right to give up on something customary in favor of the other. In his works, the fine line between things that are usual for a human and that are different is blurred and hardly visible. Another series exhibited at the exhibition is the group of sculptures Ilya has recently created in his studio in New York. Here, Fedotov-Fedorov focuses on the symbolic figure of the mask, implementing a process opposite to one used in the paintings.
The sculptures represent the possibility to assume different identities, helping us to connect with one’s true self. Supported by raw steel bars, these sculptures appear like totemic elements, motionless characters without face but full of symbolism.
April 4 - May 25
Via Lulli 5, Milanowww.ncontemporary.com
