Meet The Artist: Valentin Gubarev

In today’s world, obsessed with money and “capitalization” of everything including art, the artist Valentin Gubarev stands alone.

The Clear Advantage Of The Circular Point Of View

Gubarev doesn’t chase fame. He simply does what he loves to do, and he does it well.

Indian Summer

The artist lives and works in Minsk, Belarus. His work is incredibly popular abroad, but almost unknown to his compatriots.

And I’m Worth It!

In the mid-90s, the French fell in love with Gubarev’s primitive-styled paintings. Consequently, the artist signed the 16 year contract with the French gallery.

Childhood

The paintings, which seemingly should be understood and appreciated only by those who is familiar with the Russian life of the Soviet and early post-Soviet period, has been widely exhibited in Switzerland, Germany, the UK and other countries.

Waiting For The Sunrise

The artist perceives the world around his in a very sincere and direct way. Valentin Gubarev doesn’t dream up the subjects for his paintings. Why, if the inspiration is everywhere?

Little Bird

Destroying all the laws of composition and perspective, the artist creates a game of sorts — come with me, walk the walk, be a neighbor, play dominoes, watch your neighbors, chase stray dogs…

Titanic

In one of his interviews Valentin Gubarev said that his paintings have no bad guys — no negative personages whatsoever.

Re-reading Schopenhauer. (Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher. He is best known for his 1818 work The World as Will and Representation.)

“For example, in Slow Dance, a man with a woman are dancing at home. There are champagne and chocolates on the table.”

Slow Dance

“I am often asked why a man is dancing in his socks? Isn’t it so in real life, too?  Our [Russian] man comes to visit a lady. He wants to please and impress with his manners. Of course, he takes off his shoes. A “man in socks” is no longer a macho — at once he becomes “domesticated,” easy to handle.  A man in socks in woman’s house is a gift of god.”

“I love them all and I treat them with compassion,” says Gubarev. “The people on my canvasses are neither heroic nor particularly attractive. They are often not well off and not always carefree and happy.

Inspiration

Night Dreams