Self-cognition and "personality revival" (according to Lev Karsavin) is the recovery and self-enrichment. They give the whole vision of memorable events. "Actualization" of memory can be expressed in artwork. Creative work of Elena Likhatskaya becomes a known "experience" of reminiscence. The author of numerous series of graphics and paintings acts from a position of the narrator, actor, "describing the visions" of current day. Delights of existence, joyful feelings are included in pictorial "diary" of events. Details and features of current historical period are important.

 

Elena Vladimirovna Likhatskaya was born on the eight of October 1975 in Yurga, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. She graduated from the department of Art and Pedagogy (1991-1996) of Krasnoyarsk Vasily Ivanovich Surikov Art College and the Department of painting of Krasnoyarsk State Art Institute under supervision of professor Pokrvosky A.A. (1996-2002). Elena Likhatskaya was enrolled for an internship at  The Creative Workshops of Contemporary Art at Krasnoyarsk art Institute (2002-2005). Her work continued in The Creative Workshops of graphics of the Russian Academy of Arts (2009-2012). The Russian Academy of Arts (the Urals, Siberia and the Far East branch) is a unique example of artistic adaptation under new circumstances under supervision of professor Pashtov G.S., the head of the workshop of graphics. Experimental platforms of modern art are investigated as a productive and actual center of culture. Trips to China (2006), USA (2007-2009) were carried out at the time of an important decision: Elena became a member of the Union of Russian Artists. All these events a prerequisite and a catalyst in the evolution of her career. They reflect new trends, a parallel coexistence of traditional and modernist ideas, mutual exchange between systems, cycles, traditions and art forms.

 

The visible reality, its essence, its truth are interpreted by the artist. "The air" of the author's love adds its own stylistics to individual emotions. With subtle humor and unrestrained imagination all events from the inside are enriched by introspection (self-observation,. Elena Likhatskaya lives out the idea of whole cycle, included in series "umbrellas", "Marine", "African motif" (all—2003), "Friends" (2009), "Myths", "My Krasnoyarsk" (2009-2010). They are perceived by "reconstruction" of real and ideal values of life of the nature and the person. Pictorial space is filled with new meaning, and the connection with urban landscape marks the fusion of poetic perception of reality and keen vision of analyst peering into the world. Happy state of being of group is preserved through feeling into or "empathy" in "Ivan Kupala" series (2011).

 

Subjective interpretation is an expression of the life of the individual "spirit": "fauvistic" smile and symbolic mystery remind of paradise gardens of lovers.

 

Portrait images can be saturated with the "primitive" to find a harmony with the outside world. "Self-portrait", "Jenya" (2009), "Tanya", "Japanese girl Kuniko" are full of self-contemplation, inner concentration in order to achieve a light state of mind. "Magical" reality of megalopolises, metaphysics of the city, confusion of the person and infinity of the nature are concentrated in landscape and still life motifs: "Georgetown", "Still life with a moneybox" (both 2009), "Times Square" (2010), "Autumn Trees" (2011).

 

Intense color-light is attributed to normal natural phenomena. The whole picture environment is based on conditional author's "coordinate grid", leading your eyes up, away and in the depth, revealing the theme of infinity of space and time. Gradually motionless contemplation of lithographies "On the beach" (2009), "Auntie" (2010) is replaced by "theatrical" moves of printed sheets "My Krasnoyarsk" (2009-2010).

 

Elena Likhatskaya bring us back to the style of impulsive evanescent impression. Autolitographies "Krasnoyarsk" (2011) remind of the "impromptu" in music due to its air fluent manner. They are a mirror of the artist's romantic world-view. In urban images you can identify yourself with figures lighting up the "spark" of their own spirit. Unknown characters appear as observers expressing the highest degree of delight (ecstasy) in the print "My Krasnoyarsk. March 8" (2010). Those close to reality situations and people reflect infinite affection between man and nature. In the form of a game, the artist seems to declare "I saw it!" Travelling around the world and having passed a way of registration of modern life.

 

The intelligent order of the private world of a contemporary and the dispassionate look of the creator give vital support in studying of myths, holidays, everyday life of the person The artist can cross the line between real and imaginary, perceiving the world as Will and representation (according to Schopenhauer). The most attractive point is to feel being a part of the infinite cosmos.

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Natalia Pokrovskaya

Art historian, docent