**Originally Listed At $1000**

Alena Vavilina (Russia, b. 1986). "Life is a Game 2" - Mixed Media: gold leaf, silver leaf, acrylic paint, and chalk on paper, 2021. Signed "AV" on one of the creature's fins at lower right. A captivating composition by award winning contemporary artist Alena Vavilina, featuring two ethereal creatures of rich red hues with huge eyes and royal blue puddles below, both with fins delineated in silver leaf, surrounded by black globular forms and a gold leaf checkerboard. Nature is Vavilina's greatest muse, and water is oftentimes highlighted in the form of puddles and droplets in her compositions. This composition was also inspired by magical creatures envisioned in the artist's dreams. Size: 39.5" L x 27.5" W (100.3 cm x 69.8 cm)

The sad eyes are similar to those of Vavilina's sculptures, namely the Big Ocean Drops (2019) and Ocean Drops Little (2019) , and are, according to the artist "windows into the souls of the creatures of our ocean" as well as a "dedication to the pollution within the big blue sea" intended to draw "attention to nature." By placing the droplets against a gold and silver leaf checkerboard and entitling the piece, "Life is a game" Vavilina is making a powerful artistic statement about how humankind "plays" with nature by creating interventions that disturb our ecosystem. In addition, according to Vavilina the checkerboard pattern is also a metaphorical symbol for the artist who is conveying the idea that life is a game. Furthermore, this pattern symbolizes the artist's philosophical thoughts about life and the rules that artists and people in general should follow as well as how they should 'play' their lives.

In the Spring 2020 issue of Harper's BAZAAR Art, Vavilina was introduced as follows, "Vavilina’s love for art flourished from a very young age; her first tutor was her father. He was not an artist himself, but he introduced the use of water colour and still life painting techniques very early on in Vavilina’s life. In her adolescent years, she enrolled into an art school in Moscow and never looked back. Vavilina has also been educated in France, England, Malta, China and Dubai – her travels have left a mark on her art pieces in one way or the other.

Her adoration for Chinese culture has seen her spend some of her early days studying the language and Chinese diplomacy. So influenced is she by the culture, that she calls herself an 'Orientalist,' and this is evident in the style of her art on canvas, for instance, as seen in Cherry Blossom (2019) and in her Butterflies series."

Alena Vavilina's Artist Statement, "Alena Vavilina’s art is both a unifying and graceful force as it seamlessly weaves an invisible thread binding countries and cultures. Russian by birth, Alena Vavilina grew up in Moscow. She studied in France, England, Malta, China and UAE. Her experiences in these countries and with these cultures are captured in her artistic creations.

Her art is trans dimensional, as she attempts to create a world without territorial or temporal boundaries. Through formal lessons at Academic Art School in Moscow, Alena learned the principles of art, and with this foundation she created her own signature mixed media style by which she can be easily recognised.

In Alena Vavilina’s art, there is the mixture of ancient Chinese style, juxtaposed with modern European civilization. It can be described as reunion of styles, time and the unique author personality. A key source of inspiration for Alena is Vincent Van Gogh, and his quote, 'I dream my painting and then I paint my dream…' represents the verbal expression of her work.

The paintings of Alena Vavilina are a part of private arts collections around the world. She is curated by Gallery Artistry’s Vienna, Austria ; ART WEME Contemporary Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and IAM Gallery Abu Dhabi, UAE. Alena Vavilina's artworks and sculptures are always exhibited at the main international Art Fairs: Art Basel Miami, Art Expo Malaysia, Asia Contemporary Art Hong Kong, World Art Dubai, Carrousel du Louvre…"

Provenance: Collection of the artist, Alena Vavilina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Accompanied by a COA signed by Alena Vavilina

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#170379

Excellent overall with minor gestural marks/abrasions to the gold leaf ground that are commensurate with the artist's process. Signed "AV" by the artist on one of the creature's fins at lower right.