November 1 – 24, 2012
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 3, 6 – 9 p.m.
BEZPALA BROWN GALLERY
17 Church Street (Front and Church)
Toronto, ON, M5E 1M2
T: 416.907.6875
E: info@bezpalabrown.com
www.bezpalabrown.com
Hours: Tues–Wed 11–6, Thurs–Sat 11–8, Sun 11–6 p.m
Infanta series was created and used to illustrate “Oh woman, delight of delights” – a collection of Spanish poetry from the period between 17th and 20th centuries, published by Lamartis. The collection has won an award in the category of “Best Illustrations for Literary Works” at “Image of a Book”, an All-Russian competition.
Originally the Infantas were inspired by the images of royal ladies depicted on the paintings of Francisco de Zurbaran, Diego Velazquez, Bartholome Esteban Murillo. The full-dress style of portrait assumes the static character and solemnity of execution. The figures are depicted in full height, a mandatory tight bodice and a significantly wide skirt made from heavy silk on a hoop. The number of works had been increasing and in the result – they founded an entire Museum of Infantas. The word “Infanta” already implies the beauty of youth, the antiquity of the breed and tendency into the future.
“Taking the full-dress portrait style as the basis, I attempt to translate its image system into the modern language. In the Infanta portraits I portray my peers and friends. It is the connections of times (epochs) that captivated me in this series. The series obtained an independent meaning among all illustrations to the collection of poetry.” Vasily Vlasov
Vlasov is based in Moscow, has curated Russian and international exhibitions staged by the international association “Artist Book”, and has participated in over 200 exhibitions in various countries around the world including in Moscow, Mexico City, Berlin, Luxembourg, Madrid, Prague, Florence, Milan, Marseille, Vienna, Amsterdam, and Anchorage. He is a graduate of the Russian Academy of Arts and has received numerous awards both for his collage work and in the field of book arts.