The works of Vladimir Martirosov present complex mechanisms, predominantly made of metal, which at the same time possess lightness and smoothness, fragility and even a romantic quality. At the same time all the objects "strive" toward abstraction. Due to the indistinctness of their forms, the works appear not only rich and expressive, but as if invite the viewer to co-create. In kinetic art the important thing is not the final result but the very process of transformation and change, and this also applies to perception.
Vladimir Martirosov's objects are mesmerizing both from a distance and up close. From afar the rhythmic nature of the movement and the trajectory of the objects' unfolding are noticeable. Up close the viewer has the opportunity to see and examine the mechanism that sets the object in motion. The artist intentionally does not hide the motors, instead turning them into full-fledged, conceptually justified parts of the objects.
The exhibition will include several thematic zones. These include a garden with works from the "Flowers" and "Insects" series, and a kind of park with large-scale objects. Smaller forms will also be presented: the already well-known "Fans", as well as "Clouds", which will be exhibited for the first time. One of the halls will emphasize the creative process. Another will present new wall-mounted objects that Vladimir Martirosov makes together with his wife, Anastasia Kislitsina.
According to the artist, his interest in kinetic objects owes, first of all, to his father — the artist Alexander Martirosov, whose works made a strong impression on his son, even though they now work in completely different techniques. Also influential was a children's model-aircraft club where Vladimir spent several months as a child: "I learned to glue the little wooden pieces, started making some constructions for myself, but those were not yet mobiles, rather some avant-garde forms. Later I attached small motors to them that shook them. Well, and gradually I arrived at what I do now."
As is well known, kinetic objects are built on the idea of constant change. This is a symbolic consolidation of the idea of endless dynamism and the transformation of living matter. The field of art explores the possibilities of working with space and time, addressing the phenomenon of processuality and the changes of objects in space and time. The movement of objects creates a dynamic perception in which time becomes part of the artistic process.
Kinetic art is connected with the philosophy of movement. This is a concept whose roots go back to antiquity. The search for a universal characteristic of objects led thinkers to the understanding that movement belongs to all living things — a statement of the impermanence of matter and the continuous mutability of being.
It is worth recalling that the very first exhibition of the Artstory gallery in 2014 was dedicated to the work of the famous group of kinetic artists "Dvizhenie" ("Movement"), which included representatives of the unofficial art of the Soviet era.
The entire space of the Artstory gallery is subject to continuous movement until February 16, 2025, conducted by the artist, sculptor and scenographer Vladimir Martirosov. The exhibition, timed to the artist's 50th anniversary, is retrospective: it presents the results of his creative explorations over the last two decades, including new works.
Vladimir Martirosov was born on January 27, 1975 in Tbilisi. His father is an artist, his mother an art historian. In 2000 he graduated from the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS) — the scenography faculty under the guidance of S.M. Barkhin, in the workshop of S.F. Morozov, where he studied together with Anastasia Kislitsina. Since 1999 he has worked as a theatre designer, and since 2007 in the film industry. The artist's record includes several dozen productions, among which are such well-known stagings as: "The Overcoat" by N. Gogol, dir. N. Chusov, RAMT (Moscow); "Mamapapa's Dog" by B. Srbljanović, dir. N. Chusov, Sovremennik Theatre (Moscow); "Tartuffe" by J.-B. Molière, dir. N. Chusov, Moscow Art Theatre named after A.P. Chekhov (Moscow). He is a laureate of the "Triumph" (2001) and "Chaika" (2006) awards. But, according to the artist, for him theatre and art objects are "two completely parallel lines of life that do not touch each other".
Artstory contemporary art gallery. Staropimenovsky Lane, 14. Daily, except Mondays, from 12:00 to 20:00. Admission (100–200 RUB; concessions and free categories available)
Vladimir Martirosov
