Arina Orlova is a London based visual artist. Her paintings are studies of Modern Mythology through the lens of popular culture and modern cinema. 

 

Myths are the stories we tell in order to understand the world. Reality is too complex to grasp by means of any one method of analysis, stories provide a glimpse of that complexity. Many beliefs are held unconsciously, and most develop and transform over time – being shaped and reshaped by the dynamic process of telling, listening, and reflection. 

 

Arina studies ‘myths’ – stories of our time, focusing on popular cultural heritage, heroes and objects they interact with. She quotes, connects the dots, finds rhymes and synergies in popular culture. ‘Mythological characters’ that she captures are instantly recognisable, they connect with the viewer on a subconscious level. 

 

Humans create things and very often become dependent on things, getting caught in a double-bind – depending on things that depend on them. Arina is interested in exploring this paradox by capturing people using things and getting entangled by them. She is inviting the viewer to think about this ever-growing complexity. 

 

Arina’s visual language combines influences from pop art and modernist film as well as traditional religious iconography. Arina creates series of paintings on board, canvas, and wood, she uses acrylic paint, gold leaf and image transfer technique. Her black and white figures step in and out of the ‘iconic’ golden background, or at times the background itself breaks up and tries to swallow the heroes. The objects in Arina’s paintings often boldly call for attention, visualising the dependency the actors have on them, creating parallels and multitudes of meaning. 

 

Arina studied Visual Arts/Illustration in University of the Arts London, she has extensive background in Graphic and Product Design. She now works from her South London studio. 

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