VARVARA POMIDOR
VARVARA KARKHALEVA, VARVARA POMIDOR is a pseudonym
RENNES, FRANCE
Author, illustrator, graphic designer since 1996
EDUCATION
Graphic Design
2003 | Art and Industrial Academy, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Printed design, photography
2000 | Georg-Simon-Ohm-Fachhochschule, Nuremberg, Germany
Industrial Design and Graphic Communication
1996 | N. K. Roerich Higher Art School, St. Petersburg, Russia
LINKS:
https://www.behance.net/POMIDOR
https://www.behance.net/varvarakarkhaleva
https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/mav/159/POMIDOR/58692
A SELECTION OF PUBLICATIONS:
2021 | Journey to the Hermitage. The Dream Eater
A youth graphic novel. Based on the text by Daria Agapova, Arka publishing house.
2020 | Mona Olala
A youth graphic novel. Based on the text by Helene Mallet, Bumkniga publishing house.
2017 | Journey to the Hermitage. The Queen of Tulips
A youth graphic novel. According to the text by Daria Agapova, Arka edition
Malevich Award in the nomination "The best work with color".
2015 – 2016 | Prostodursen, volumes 1 and 2 [Dustefjerten]
Illustrations for the youth novel by Rune Belsvik, scooter edition. It was recognized as the best book of the year by two literary awards of the St. Petersburg region. Winner of the All-Russian Illustrated Book Competition in the nomination "the best illustrations for works for children and teenagers".
2012 | St. Petersburg-Bordeaux, a painted travel guide
Graphic novel in four hands with Francois Ayroles, Boomkniga publications.
PROJECTS, EXHIBITIONS, RESIDENCIES:
2022 | personal exhibition "Journey to the Hermitage. The Eater of Dreams", BRIDGE Gallery, Saint Petersburg, Russia
2019 | group exhibition "Three Stories", Berlin, Germany
2018 | publication in Le Monde Diplomatique, an essay on the topic: "The New Cold War"
2012 | the creation of a guidebook drawn as part of a guest artist's residence in Bordeaux, France.
2011 | residence and solo exhibition, Periscopages Festival, Rennes, France.
2010 | exhibition at the festival "Meetings of comics and illustrations", Bastia, France. Project for the Periscopages Festival (conducted while working on the project), Rennes, France. Exhibition at the Comic Book Festival in Angouleme, France.
WORKS ARE PRESENTED
Private collections in Holland, Germany, France, Russia, Georgia.
ARTIST VOICE
I am interested in historical memory and the connection between the past and the present. An image of a house often appears in my drawings. For me, this is a place of peace, security, a place of my personal history, my past and my future. My house can be anywhere, in any place, different events can happen around it, but it itself is unchangeable, it is myself, the way I am, it is based on the past and eternity lives in it.
Once in exile, I got a new perspective on what's around me. I look at everything through the template of culture, language, nature, and the space of the place where I was born, grew up, and lived. Therefore, what I see now is limited by previously formed images and forms.
Materials.
I like to work with dry pastels and simple pencils, I like their softness and the ability to draw directly with my fingers. Watercolor is close to its ability to be consciously unpredictable.
I'm interested in working as a co-author. Some of the works presented here were created in correspondence with French writer and storyteller Hélène Mallet during covid. She wrote to me in poetry, and I replied with drawings. It helped us get through those very difficult times.
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