Vania

More about the book

This monograph presents the work of Russian-born artist Vania Zouravliov who creates surreal, haunting illustrations of beautiful women drawn in painstaking detail that capture a mixture of innocence, beauty, and decay. Russian-born Vania Zouravliov’s surreally haunting illustrations capture a mixture of innocence, beauty, and decay. He draws inspiration from sources as seemingly opposite as Russian folklore, Japanese illustration, and pop culture. His resulting drawings are elaborately composed and demonstrate the technical brilliance of an old master. Gestalten published the first monograph of Vania’s work in 2008, which quickly sold out. This expanded edition not only presents the ample scope of an exceptional talent, but also features more than 30 additional artworks. Vania’s intense emotional style evokes a nostalgia rooted in the artist’s Russian background that is reminiscent of the imagery used in that country’s silent and art house movies. His dark motifs are intricately layered and full of powerful symbolism. They often feature provocative sadomasochistic references that represent the vulnerable relationship between innocence and affliction. As a prodigy in his homeland, Vania has exhibited internationally since the age of 13, and continues to produce a vast range of work for both commercial clients and as an independent artist.