Vadim Garine is an iconographer who impresses the intangible onto matter. Through his art, he seeks to express a holistic vision of the universe, which combines the spiritual and the material. He invites us into a realm of introspection, allowing each of us to reveal our "Self."
The Art of Iconography:
A Russian-born iconographer, Vadim Garine discovered his calling in a bookstore when he came face to face with a reproduction of an icon by Andrei Rublev. The encounter was striking, clear, and undeniable. He left his career as a psychologist in the Kazakhstani army to pursue this new path. After more than a year searching for training opportunities, he found his mentor in the work of Archimandrite Zenon.
Vadim traveled over 6,000 kilometers to the remote Mirozhsky Monastery, where he spent more than two years learning the art of iconography. After working in Russia, Vadim eventually continued his career in France, where he mastered the art of gilding in a Lyon workshop.
The Art of Iconography and Gilding on Leaf:
Vadim gradually moved away from fresco work to develop a more personal exploration of material. Recycled cardboard, paper, jute canvases, and rice straw cut into mosaics became his new playgrounds. He selects materials without knowing what shape the final work will take—it is through working the material that the piece slowly emerges.
This transformation of the material is the most time-consuming part. With the cardboard, multiple layers are cut by hand to preserve the raw beauty of the material. From there, the shape of the piece is outlined, often inspired by nature. Once the form is sketched, the material is prepared to receive the gilding—a skill that defines Vadim's work, where gold meets raw, overlooked materials.
Iconography and the Vibrations of Matter:
This work with materials allows Vadim to express his holistic vision of art and existence. Both spiritual and material, Vadim's works embody a cohesive whole. Those who look at his pieces are meant to find something inexpressible, connecting to their deeper nature. In his work, one can sense the "vibrations of matter," traces or imprints left by the elements. For instance, in his piece Montagnes Célestes, one can almost see the wind undulating across the sky.
This vision is an ongoing exploration, inspired by how natural elements imprint on matter, such as the wind’s ripples on sand. Vadim is particularly influenced by Images sonores de l’eau : La musique créatrice (2005) by Alexander Lauterwasser, which explores the experiments of German physicist Chladni. In these experiments, sand placed on a plate creates geometric patterns when played with a violin. Drawing from these studies of frequency imprints on matter, Vadim incorporates similar patterns, reminiscent of the wind’s ripples in the sand, into his work.
Beyond the physical vibrations imprinted on the material, Vadim's art reflects the vibrations of our innermost being. When viewing his work, we are invited on a journey toward inner harmony and peace.
We are left to contemplate, resonate, and reveal ourselves.
Paris, September 17, 2020
