The Finnish American Reporter
February 2004
RUSSIAN ARTIST DRAWN TO FINNISH CULTURE



PETROZAVODSK, Karelia - From the mid 1980s to the early 1990s, Siberian-born artist Vladimir Fomin studied the art of the Finno-Ugric peoples of Siberia and the Russian North.

After viewing the work he`s produced since, one could safely assume he was an "A" student.

Since then, Fomin has produced several series of paintings based on his studies, including the "Vepsa" series, which he says is devoted to the ancient cults of the inhabitants of Suomi and Karelia; the "Kizhi" series, based on the architectural motifs of the island of Kizhi; and the "Kalevala" series, which is based on the Finnish epic and from which this month`s FAR cover is taken.

Fomin, who was born in the town of Tomsk, has lived in the Karelian capital, Petrozavodsk, since 1992. His work has evolved from a style called avant-garde lubok, characterized by bright colors and simple compositions, to one that is distinquished by saturation of space, greater plasticity of from and harmony of colors.

More than 300 works by Fomin are in the collections of art galleries, museums, cultural centers and embassies in the United States, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Russia and other countries.

Many of his works are also in private collections around the world.