Ilya Mosunov "Imprints"

At a personal exhibition in Artmuza, Ilya Mosunov revives linocut, defining its place in the modern world, in which digitalization and mass production create a counter-effect of exclusivity and artisanism. In the artist's striking works, the viewer observes the metamorphosis and possibilities of the "paint-paper" union.

Most people associate linocut with small black-and-white pictures from Soviet interiors. However, this type of letterpress is the successor of medieval etchings and woodcuts, the appearance of which was associated with animation. The author of the #THEGRAVURE project set as his goal to revive the genre: thanks to the color, size and plot, the works are relevant and organic in the modern world and the interior.

The "Imprints" exhibition thematically becomes a fixation of memories and captured everyday images. Occasional vacation shots captured by Barcelona graffiti (LOOK & HIDE triptych), ironic narrative from Mickey Mouse, homage to Roman statues. Ilya Mosunov's visiting card - portraits of a girl in a turban and a Spanish youth Mateo - have already become figures in posters and lots of Russian auctions of contemporary art.

Ilya Mosunov graduated from the letterpress course in the Moscow workshop of A. Laptev. A fresh look at the forgotten linocut was originally a challenge to digitalization and mass production. Then it became clear to the author that graphics can occupy several niches both among novice collectors and among the creators of modern interiors. Since 2015, Ilya has participated in exhibitions in Russia and Great Britain, in his work he is mainly inspired by the works of Soviet masters (Bronstein, Bilibin) and modern masters.