ARTIST STATEMENT

A mental battle between a Russian Orthodox nun who was engraved in me by my religious parents and a revolutionary mind of a free spirited girl that possessed me since the dissolution of the Soviet Union,  continued to haunt me, even after I moved to USA in 2002 to escape Putin’s Russia, that was built on psychological manipulation to intimidate and confuse.

My artwork is shockingly raw, sometimes brutally honest. I tend to mix the opposites to shake the viewer. Religion ("Santa Barbie",  "Blood and tears"), masculinity, eroticism, pain, suffering, life and death are usually what interest me the most. 

My work is deeply personal. The recent collection portrays mental struggle. I feel nothing but anger for the “abuser” ( "Harvey the hutt" ) as he crushed me that day I've met him in Beverly Hills hotel, physically and mentally. But the obedient Russian nun in me begs for his forgiveness ( "Murder she wrote" ).

I try to see both sides of the coin. I understand from my own experience how seductive, captivating and cunning one can be to achieve their goal ("Vitruvian woman" ) but I also feel how much suffering, pain, even death could be resulting from that seduction ( "Marylin crucified" ). Putin ( "Last supper" ), Trump ( "Stardust" ), Harvey Weinstein ( "Hollywood Galaxy" ) are often seen in my work as a representation of dying breed of masculinity. Positions of dominance and privilege achieved by fear, bullying and intimidation are doomed to fail. 

contact@marinaorlova.com