by Laura Goldstein
Ceramicist, Anyuta Gusakova holding a ‘MoBear’ with ‘Blue Pet” in foreground. Photo: Malcolm Parry
With a delightfully naïve style evocative of childhood, ceramicist and multi-media artist, Anyuta Gusakova’s decorative porcelain collections reflect her playful nature and love of multi-cultural myth and folk art. Her hand-made, small production pieces from Anyuta Studio, can be found in the Pop-Up Shop at the SwitzerCultCreative showroom, 1725 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver and online at Oden Gallery.
“When I was a little girl growing up in the port city of Vladivostok, (it was still part of the Iron Curtain,) everything was very grey and dull. I remember classmates whose fathers were sailors, bringing to school colourful gum wrappers and little toys in crazy colours and patterns from Japan. I also had a book on Russian folk toys. Years later, as I began creating in porcelain, these pieces, like my Japanese and Russian Doll Vases, just emerged subconsciously,” laughs Gusakova from her Vancouver studio.
Gusakova’s Russian and Japanese minimalist Doll Vases with gold accents are inspired by childhood folklore. Photo: Anyuta Gusakova
Her stylized big and baby MoBears are clever molecular atom re-creations of her favourite childhood teddy bear. Mishka the Russian Bear recalls the hand-painted exotic patterns of traditional ‘matryoshka’ nesting dolls while others display faux fur on porcelain, the latter making for the perfect pet without the cleanup!
Gusakova’s edgy Spirit of the Woods OLEN Deer Skull Collection was inspired by a real deer skull found in a forest in B.C. The abstract porcelain sculptures of which several are embellished with gold branching antlers, can also be wall-mounted, used as tabletop décor or bookends and evoke a spiritual connection to nature.
Gusakova’s “Wings of Inspiration” statuette was presented to 16-time Grammy Award-winner, David Foster by the Canadian College of Performing Arts in 2017. Photo: Anyuta Gusakova
Recently, Gusakova won the 2017 national design challenge to create the Canadian Legend Award initiated by the Canadian College of Performing Arts and The Canadian Heritage Arts Society. Her Wings of Inspiration statuette was presented to 16-time Grammy Award-winning music producer, David Foster in his hometown of Victoria.
“Spirit of the Woods” OLEN Deer Skull Collection was inspired by a real deer skull found in a forest in B.C. Photo: Anyuta Gusakova
Like gardeners plunging their hands into the raw earth, “It’s an amazing feeling working in clay,” confides Gusakova. “I experience an immense sense of joy through my art work and this is what I want to share.”
