Sculptures by Marina Fedorova.

Sculpture occupies a special place in «Marina Fedorova’s oeuvre». Thanks to contemporary technology, this figurative medium offers a wide variety of parameters, such as size, colour, shape, and even materials. Mostly resorting to 3D printing, the artist tirelessly experiments with colours and materials to create the desired effect for viewers both in a museum space and in home interiors, as well as public areas.


Each thematic cluster of the Cosmodreams project is augmented with sculptures. All six clusters feature a principal female character, every one of them acting as a guide into the Cosmodreams multiverse.


The central sculpture is the «Flying Lady», one of the key art objects in the «Patriotism» cluster of the Cosmodreams project. Symbolising movement, determination, strength, and renewal for the country, this goddess dashes forward into the unknown, rising over the clouds and reaching for the sky. Her youthful appearance is no mere coincidence: she represents the new Russia. She is holding a shield — the symbol of protection and knowledge, courage and fortitude — while her light robes resembling classical tunics allude to the historical context in which the new state emerged.


Thus the artist stresses the modern world’s urgent need for renewal: time changes, and we must change along with it. The new generation needs a new symbolic representation of their motherland: whereas in the past it was crafted by the Soviet artists, now it is evoked by the contemporary ones.


Particularly worth mentioning is the «Cosmolady» sculpture from the «Life in Space» cluster — a girl clad in a tight-fitting spacesuit. Looking at her one gets the impression of being in the presence of a daring character who is not afraid of challenges and ready to blaze new trails. This is further reinforced by the girl’s outfit: we cannot see her face which is shielded by the helmet creating double protection, whereby her adversaries can neither distinguish her features nor look her in the eye. The sculpture epitomises the female archetype of modern-day Artemis. She is a free, independent, and strong-spirited person of integrity.


This is the archetype of a powerful and motivated woman who always knows what she wants and usually gets her way (even if it means war). It seems that in the present world this kind of woman — successful, self-sufficient, and independent — is most strongly promoted.


Counterbalancing it is the «Space Lady», a delicate and romantic girl wistfully sitting on the lunar surface, deep in her thoughts and memories. The same character appears twice more, as «Space Girl» and «Gymnast», adding to the gallery of Soviet sculptures promoting sports and healthy living, whether on Earth or in another galaxy.


The «Alice» sculpture emerged as the embodiment of the cultural code of a Soviet child who enjoyed sci-fi animated films and such television series as Visitor from the Future. The symbol and ‘mascot’ of the entire project, Alice personifies a certain generalised female character - a young lady ready for new discoveries and realms, even extra-terrestrial ones. This imaginary character ultimately materialised in real life. Modern technology and social media allow anyone to become friends with this mysterious girl on «Facebook»; the added augmented reality features and the «Cosmodreams AR» app offer an insight into the artist’s vision of the girl’s arrival on planet Earth.


The «Alice and Dragon» sculpture shows Alice and a dragon from a yet undiscovered planet. The dragon is the planet’s heart and magic charm, its protector and its weak spot. It had confronted Alice, determined to drive the stranger away from its domain, but, having seen her, remembered the old fairytale about the alien princess. Now Alice and the Dragon are friends and comrades-in-arms for brave intergalactic battles.


The «Rocket Girl» sculpture appearing in the «Life on Earth» cluster seems to portray a girl who is either late for her spaceflight or finds herself on the brink of uncertainty. This sculpture conveys despair. The lonely girl in a cocktail dress is braced for the unknown: should she head for a different planet? What awaits her there? What about Earth?


The «Dystopia» series is the most challenging and thought-provoking in the entire project, being first and foremost a warning of a future that awaits us should we fail to put an end to our mindless consumption and destruction of the environment. The «Trash Madonna» sculpture serves to remind us of it. No longer holding anything in her hands, the female character has folded them over her dress, her face hidden by a gas mask. We receive no clue as to her emotions. Will we experience any emotions at all in the future? Will there be a place for us on planet Earth?


The next thematic cluster, «Legacies», further explores the subject of environmental disaster with the «Lady & Robobaby» sculpture. The storyline is simple: due to problems with the environment and widespread digitalisation, regular babies ceased to be born, making way for little androids . . . A child became a new kind of gadget with a number of pre-programmed functions selected by the future parent. Convenient, isn’t it?!


Marina Fedorova continues to create sculptures, ostensibly building a collection of idealised female entities. It keeps on growing, capturing each new character in static form and material, as if focusing on a certain vision or experience, which in the end becomes an art object enhancing the artistic universe of its creator.
All characters and their stories can be followed through the project’s social media and at www.cosmodreams.com.

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