ANDREY SAMARIN: ARCHETYPAL IMAGES

Nino Mier Gallery is delighted to present Archetypal Images, Andrey Samarin’s first exhibition with the gallery and his first presentation in Brussels.

January 18 - February 28, 2025

The works featured in Archetypal Images mark a significant departure from the earlier abstraction in his practice, moving toward more recognizable subjects such as gargoyles, dragons, and characters historically associated with medieval armor and shields. Although Samarin, a self-taught artist with a background in political science, actively avoids being overly literal in his art, subtle influences of the war inevitably surface in his work, some more apparent than others. 

These elements create a visceral response to the war and evoke imagery of defense and resilience against invasive forces while simultaneously capturing the chaos and devastation of battle. The result is a body of work that is as evocative as it is poignant, presenting the madness of death and destruction with clarity and emotional depth. Even though the imagery of the paintings might strike one as joyful through the colors and whimsical faces of the depicted creatures, they are deeply reflective for Samarin.

Samarin’s creative process is marked by a sense of urgency (hence the use of acrylic paint) and deliberate intent. He paints quickly, infusing his works with an extraordinary sense of movement, energy, and vibrant color. His method is highly physical, as he obsessively engages with his compositions, demonstrating the immediacy and fluidity of his gestures across the canvas. 

Honesty truly defines his work, serving as the main criterion for Andrey Samarin to judge a painting once it’s finished. That honesty—albeit subjective, as he is the only one present for the entire process, from the early composition to the completed artwork—is a cornerstone of his practice. The finishing touch he applies to his works is always the characters’ eyes, which he describes as “a surprisingly scary moment.” Through Archetypal Images, Samarin captures the essence of the human spirit—its resilience, creativity, and capacity for raw emotional expression—presenting a body of work that is as thought-provoking as it is visually arresting.