Michail Michailov, Dust to Dust #101, Colored Pencil on Paper, 2020,138x138cm (54.33” x 54.33”), $8200
DUST TO DUST
drawing series 2014-2021
Michail Michailov describes his drawing series: “In 2014 I started a series of drawings called "dust to dust". I draw the dust, hair and stains as well as useless plastic parts and mould. All things that accumulate by themselves in my studio. They are, so to speak, manifestations that arise, mostly unconsciously, through my own being and that of the people close to me. I am particularly interested in the things that we would rather not see and usually prefer to dispose of or hide.
The process of drawing takes almost as long as it takes for dust fluff and other things to accumulate naturally. The unwanted, incidental product takes on new meaning and value as a crayon drawing. By transforming this microcosm in drawing, I try to find parallels to the macrocosm, accepting the inherent contradictions. While science explores the composition of matter, I try to understand the meaning of matter through the means of art. To illustrate the connection between microcosm and macrocosm, the concept involves getting “dust drawings“ out into the world again through exhibitions. In my search for an answer to the question of what constitutes the meaning of life, I realize how relative our individual answers can be. Just as relative as the perception of the viewer, who often finds it difficult to distinguish between the real and the drawn dust when looking at my drawings.”