'Textures of the Streets.' Painting and graphic arts by Sergey Akramov

The early period of the young artist’s work is linked to street art, a movement in contemporary art with characteristic urban context. Sergey Akramov's first artworks - graffiti - were created on city streets. However, subsequently the artist began devoting more time to painting on canvas. The transition to easel painting, however, does not mean that he has stopped working as a street artist. Sergey Akramov still finds inspiration in the boundless energy of city streets, even when he produces paintings, which are meant to be exhibited in galleries. In this respect, the series of paintings 'Textures of the Streets' represents the city as a special place. The artist poetises city life and aims to overcome the dullness of routine. He captures the beauty of the moment and depicts streets of various cities across the world. In the paintings from this series, Sergey Akramov uses a technique, which recalls texture mapping. In other words, the artist layers realistic street views on top of each other, and uses this method to convey the passage of time.

A number of artworks from the series 'Textures of the Streets' express deep social implications. The artist expresses his views and ideas through messages encrypted in street signs.

For example, the sign 'MONEY' placed on top of a street pavillion illuminates the entire street, as if luring people in a trap. Notably, its reflection on a roof of a parked car reads 'IDOL,' which reveals the true essence of the inscription. Sergey Akramov depicts pedestrians in his paintings because a city without inhabitants would inevitably decline, lose its face and stop developing. However, the images of people in Sergey Akramov's paintings sometimes resemble faceless mannequins, which have no individuality.

In the painting 'Fruit, Vegetables,' for instance, the cognominal sign of a street pavillion has only the last word highlighted; the reflections of the word 'Vegetables' are cast on the faceless and unemotional crowd of people depicted in the foreground.

Just like other Sergey Akramov's series artworks (namely 'The Layers of Time,' 'The Transit Route,' 'City Size”), the series 'The Textures of the Streets' discusses various aspects of city life and the history of people in the urban environment. The artist invariably poetises the life of cities and aims to overcome the dullness of everyday routine by using bright colours.

The rapid pace of life in a large city, where everything changes so quickly, appears before the viewer in its colourful diversity. The artist shows the reflections of glowing neon lights in the puddles on sidewalks and on the surfaces of cars, which are passing by. These colours, according to the artist, are capable of filling even the simplest intersections and streets with beauty and magic. Sergey Akramov’s series of paintings demonstrate common ideas and are related stylistically.

For example, in the series 'The Transit Route,' Sergey Akramov shares his impressions from the trips to various cities all over the globe. The artworks are based on photographs and sketches taken during the trip. This technique is also used in the series of abstract landscapes 'The Moments.' Taken as still images from a car or train window, the abstract compositions here present the overall picture of the journey through colour, line and associative impressions.

In the series of paintings the 'Transit Route,' the artist experiments with the effects of frame deformation, the so-called glitch effect or digital noise, which is rather common in photography. This series includes cityscapes from various countries; there is a Parisian cathedral, a terrace in the suburbs of Lisbon and views of other European cities.

Nevertheless, all paths lead home, to Sergey Akramov's hometown Yekaterinburg - the images of familiar autumn streets and courtyards appear through the layers of time and surprise with bright warm colours.

The aesthetics of everyday life in the paintings of Sergey Akramov has nothing incommon with oppressive routine. Based on his experience in creating graffiti, the artist brings into his paintings the effects and techniques, which are widely used in street art. Sonorous, life-affirming colours create an atmosphere of bright emotions, which viewers with to experience again and again.