Petro, one of the most famous representatives of the ‘street wave’ art movement, has been painting on walls for more than 20 years. He is a founder and member of the post-graffiti duo Aesthetics Group. Today Petro is at the forefront of Russian street art, and his current eclectic style is based on a combination of various trends in applied art and architecture. Moving on from font compositions over time, Petro has concentrated on geometric abstraction. The artist takes part in major festivals, exhibitions and projects, in Russia and abroad. In his work Petro strives for constant development and self-realisation, and in addition to murals the artist creates works on canvas and produces three-dimensional installations and sculpture.
Developing the concept of form, Petro has given his original graphic images architectural volume: plywood elements are laser-cut, glued, sanded, then painted and assembled together. The shape determines the rhythm as a whole, the alignment of lines allows you to study the process of architectural design in detail, and the combination of local colour – red, white and black, adds rigour. Reference to the iconic colours of the Russian avant-garde, a direct source of inspiration for Petro, lies at the heart of the artist’s entire work.
The letters in their new form ceased to be signs of communication, they dissolved into an empty visual cipher. Their physical absence makes the eye move across the plane along complex trajectories. The abstract quality of the cut fragments and the effect of fading colour intensity allow you to think about the slow dissolution of your ‘I’ in the culture of incessant repetition. Working in assemblages with a void, the absence of an object, Petro raises an important question in graffiti – the ephemerality of street art objects. At any moment a one-of-a-kind ‘exhibit’ may disappear without a trace.
RUARTS GALLERY
Founded in 2004 by art collector Marianna Sardarova, Ruarts Gallery represents Russian and foreign artists working in a variety of contemporary artistic techniques, including painting, graphics, photo, video, sculpture and installation.
The gallery’s space, designed by architects Anton Nadtochiy and Vera Butko (architectural bureau "Atrium"), is one of the largest in Moscow (occupies more than 800 square meters) and located in the “museum quarter” in the centre of Moscow. Over 17 years, the Gallery hosted more than 100 personal and group exhibitions.
Among the artists cooperating with the Gallery are well-renowned masters, nominees and laureates of contemporary art awards as well as young promising artists. Ruarts Gallery actively collaborates with the participants of the Russian street wave movement.
Ruarts Gallery regularly takes part in Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Moscow Biennale for Young Art, Artmossphere International Street wave art biennale, Moscow Photobiennale and Moscow International Biennale of Fashion and Style in Photography; in Russian and International Art Fairs. Ruarts Gallery also cooperates with regional galleries and museums, carrying out various joint projects.
Exhibition participant:
Exhibition of Achievements of Contemporary Artists