Vasily Klyukin
Vasily Klyukin (born March 3, 1976) is a Russian-born, Monaco-based visual artist,[1] sculptor and architect.[2]
![](../I/Vasily_Klyukin%252C_credits_Anna_Savko.jpg.webp)
Biography
Early life
Vasily was born into a family of teachers, as his father Vasily Klyukin Senior was a writer, historian, and doctor of historical sciences, while his mother Elena Klyukin is an editor and schoolteacher.[3] He grew up with art at home and with his parents taking him to museums. Growing up, he greatly admired artist Auguste Rodin, whose works he saw in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow.[4] Klyukin never had time for his own art, as he searched for meaningful employment in his early 20s, alongside his younger brother. He received a degree in economics and became an Israeli citizen in 2004.[5] From 2009 to 2011, he was involved in real estate development, especially reconstructing buildings and changing the purpose of properties.[6] In 2011, he completely abandoned entrepreneurial activity, got rid of his assets and decided to devote his life to art.[7]
Architecture
In 2011, Klyukin moved to Monaco and devoted his life to art and architecture.[8] Influenced by architects with global firms like Thornton Tomasetti and Leonid B. Zborovsky, he took private lessons from world-renowned artists and designers, studying under theatre designer and scenographer Andrei Sharov, who studied under couturier Slava Zaitsev. He also studied with art historian Paola Gribaudo, the president of the Academy of Fine Arts Albertina in Turin, Italy, who also worked with Robert Rauschenberg.
With these skills, Klyukin began to focus on highly imaginative[9] digital architectural design.[10] In 2014, he created a digital design project called “Designing Legends,” a book of imaginary architecture[11] that was published by Skira Editore in Milan.[12] The designs from the book,[13] where he riffed on using world-renowned artists like Piet Mondrian for the basis of skyscrapers,[14] went viral on art publications like ArchDaily and Designboom.[15]
Sculpture
![](../I/Triumph_of_the_Sun.jpg.webp)
In 2019, Klyukin's work was introduced to the global art world with his sculptures.[16] He has a trademark technique where he makes multi-faceted sculptures that are connected in a way without the use of fasteners.[12] He connects industrial materials like laser-cut steel, polycarbonate, plywood, or cardboard into 3D sculptures, which the artist finishes by hand painting. He does this for his sculpture series “In Dante Veritas” which was inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy.[17] The solo exhibition with over 20 sculptures started its world tour in the courtyard of the Mikhailovsky Castle of the State Russian Museum in 2018,[18] then traveled to the Venice Biennale in 2019, in the Arsenale Nord.[19] In 2020, it showed in Lucerne, Switzerland near Château Gütsch. In 2021, to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Dante's death, his artwork “Mask of Dante" was on view in two Swiss cities, Zug and Lucerne. Four others from the series have been permanently installed at the Central Park of Bad Breisig in Germany.[20]
In 2017 Klyukin designed the Golden Madonnina statuette for the Milan Design Week,[21] and in 2020, he showed his wall sculptures from his “Crypto” series in a solo exhibition at the Simon Lee Gallery in London.[22]
In 2021, Klyukin held a major exhibition called "Civilization: The Island of the Day Before" at the Kunstforum Wien in Vienna, where his 4.5-meter-high brass sculpture entitled "413" was don display outside the museum's entrance. It was later installed in Malaga, Spain, with the support of the city authorities and local foundations.[23]
From September 2022 to January 2023 Klyukin's solo exhibition "Mind Space" was on view at the first-ever museum of contemporary art, the Osthaus Museum Hagen, Germany.[24] The artist created sculptures primarily for the museum spaces and presented to the viewers about 300 sculptures up to 7.5 meters high (“K-Objects”), including 144 60 cm wall pieces from the series “Embryo composition”.[25] Also on display were sculptures created in collaboration with the well-known German artist Bernd Schwarzer and Pierre Bonnefille from France.[26]
German art critic Dieter Ronte wrote about the artist, calling him a “cautionary futurist.” Ronte wrote: “He is an optimist through art, who offers the artistic outcry for our broken world, so that new reflective action can arise. He understands the power of art to bring environmental awareness. The artist becomes a prophet.”[27][28]
Charity
Klyukin has long been involved in philanthropy,[29] supporting a large number of organizations, and his sculptures are sold at charity auctions,[30] such as UNICEF, WWF, Naked Heart, amfAR, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Prince Albert II Foundation, Andrea Bocelli Foundation.[31]
Collections
Klyukin's works can be found in the collections of museums such as The State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Osthaus Museum Hagen in Hagen, Germany,[32] Das Seewerk Museum in Moers, Germany, and the Museum Tower of David in Jerusalem, Israel.
Since 2023, the artist is exclusively presented in the United States by the Serge Sorokko Gallery, San Francisco.[33]
The year 2023 marks the sculptor's collaboration with fashion brand Mônot by the designer Eli Mizrahi[34] for Paris Fashion Week.[35]
Publications
Art history books about Klyukin's work are published by such global publishers as Skira Editore (Milan);[36] Palace Editions (The State Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg);[37] and the Verlag für moderne Kunst (Vienna).[38]
Exhibitions
- "In Dante Veritas", The State Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 2018[18]
- "The pulsating heart (Heart of hope)", Burning Man, USA, 2018[39]
- "La Collection Air", Lucerne, Switzerland, 2018[40]
- "Karl Marx Forever", The State Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 2019
- "Anna Akhmatova. Poetry and Life", Branch of The State Russian Museum, Malaga, Spain, 2019
- "Authentic Human Bodies. Leonardo da Vinci", Palazzo Zaguri, Venice, Italy, 2019
- "In Dante Veritas", Venice Biennale, Italy, 2019[41]
- "Why People Can’t Fly", Polytechnic Museum, Moscow, Russia, 2019[42]
- "Why People Can’t Fly", Burning Man, USA, 2019[43]
- "Why People Can’t Fly", Venice Biennale, Italy, 2019[41]
- "Art Panorama Inferno", Lucerne, Switzerland, 2020[44][45]
- "The Mind Port", Simon Lee Gallery, London, 2020[46]
- "Civilization. The Island of the Day Before", Kunstforum, Vienna, 2021[47]
- "In Dante Veritas: 4 Sins", Bad Breisig, Germany, 2021[48]
- "Big Bang" and "Gluttony", Osthaus Museum Hagen, Germany, 2021[49]
- "413", Moscow, Vienna, Malaga, 2021[50][51]
- "Dante's Mask", Lucerne and Zug, Switzerland, 2021[52]
- “Mind Space”, Osthaus Museum Hagen, Germany, 2022-2023[32]
- “INNENLEBEN”, Osthaus Museum Hagen, Germany, 2023[53]
- “Selected ‘Crypto’ sculptures”, Serge Sorokko Gallery, San Francisco, USA, 2023[54]
References
- Sayej, Nadja. "Vasily Klyukin On Design, Futurism And His Spaced Out Show In Germany". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- "Russian billionaire designs boat-shaped hospital for new Dubai-style". The Independent. 2014-09-30. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- "Vasily Klyukin and the art of redesigning our world". Monaco Reporter. 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "Vasily Klyukin, exceptional artist from Russia, about his live performance at the Osthaus Museum Hagen on 13 January 2023". www.alethea-magazine.com (in German). Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "Inside the Art Studio with Artist Vasily Klyukin". Miami Living. 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "vasily klyukin | designboom.com". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- "Inside the Art Studio with Artist Vasily Klyukin". Miami Living. 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- designboom, nina azzarello I. (2014-11-24). "vasily klyukin envisions extravagant villas for dream domain village". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "Vasily Klyukin pavilion looks like a bouquet of blooming roses". Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building | Green design & innovation for a better world. 2016-08-05. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- designboom, nina azzarello I. (2014-03-26). "vasily klyukin envisions winged victory of samothrace tower". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- designboom, nina azzarello I. (2014-09-23). "vasily klyukin's white sails hospital to be realized in tunisia economic city". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "Vasily Klyukin Professes His Love for Architecture with Roses Pavilion". ArchDaily. 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- designboom, nina azzarello I. (2014-06-06). "vasily klyukin conceives super yachts for bold luxury travel". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "Photos of Luxury Cars Wrapped in Piet Mondrian's Iconic Abstract Art". Hypebeast. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- designboom, nina azzarello I. (2017-05-25). "vasily klyukin's 'dancing fairy' at amfAR cannes expands upon his live sculpture series". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "See This Russian Artist's Dark Vision of How Pollution Is Destroying Our Planet, Now on View in Venice". Artnet News. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "Vasily Klyukin's Apocalyptic Artworks Take Over The 2019 Venice Biennale". Hypebeast. 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "Vasily Klyukin. In Dante Veritas". The State Russian Museum. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- "Could virtual reality be the future of art exhibitions?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "Interview Vasily Klyukin, exceptional artist from Russia". www.aletheatalks.com (in German). Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "THE DESIGN PRIZE: report from the award ceremony in milan". Designboom. 2017-04-17. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
- "Vasily Klyukin | Special Project". Simon Lee. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- Baranyi, Florian; ORF.at (2021-08-06). "Vasily Klyukin: Das Universum als Ansichtssache". news.ORF.at (in German). Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- Redaktion (U.T.) (2023-01-10). "Klyukin Malperformance: Hommage aus der Tube • Westfalen erleben". Westfalen erleben (in German). Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- Hinz, Yvonne (2023-01-13). "Hagen: Osthaus-Museum erhält Beuys-Skulptur als Schenkung". www.wp.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- "Vasily Klyukin: Mind Space | Monopol". www.monopol-magazin.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "| Vasily Klyukin: Hommage an Joseph Beuys | findART.cc". www.altertuemliches.at. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- Heidemann, Robert (2023-01-08). "Vasily Klyukin Kunstperformance im Osthaus Museum Hagen". Arttrado.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- Dobson, Jim. "Space Voyage with Leonardo DiCaprio, Climbing Everest with Cousteau: Tycoon Vasily Klyukin is a Real-Life Walter Mitty". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- "Vasily Klyukin". amfAR Gala Cannes 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- "The fashion and red carpet of tomorrow: how did the UNICEF Ball go under the current circumstances?". Vogue France (in French). 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- "Osthaus Museum Hagen". www.osthausmuseum.de. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- "Vasily Klyukin". sorokko-gallery. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "Meet the Lebanese Designer Bringing Sexy Back With His New Label Mônot". Vogue. 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "Meet Eli Mizrahi – An Arab GEM who's [sic] passion is to bridge cultures". 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- "vasily klyukin". Skira (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- Klyukin, Vasily (2019). "In Dante Veritas. 700 anniversary". Palace Editions. ISBN 978-3-906917-08-5.
- "VASILY KLYUKIN". VFMK Verlag für moderne Kunst. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- "Pulsating heart and giant jellyfish among art on show at Burning Man". The Independent. 2017-08-24. Archived from the original on 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- "Sculpture Park LA Collection'Air". Brandoo. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- "Vasily Klyukin. In Dante Veritas". ARTE.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- "Why People Can't Fly? will complement the new amphitheater of the famous Moscow Polytechnical Museum". Earth2050. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
- Dobson, Jim. "Burning Man 2019: Sneak Peek At This Years Outrageous Art Installations". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
- "Art Panorama INFERNO | Lucerne". In Your Pocket. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
- "Voll die Hölle". Kultz. 2021-04-06. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- "Vasily Klyukin | Special Project". Simon Lee. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
- "Vasily Klyukin: Civilization | External | Bank Austria Kunstforum". Bank Austria Kunstforum. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
- "Breisiger Kurpark mit Reservat für Sünder".
- "Osthaus Museum Hagen". THE OSTHAUS MUSEUM. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- "NEW Vasily Klyukin's exhibition "413"". vklyukin.com. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- Cultura, Málaga de (2021-10-30). "La Colección del Museo Ruso estrena sus nuevas exposiciones temporales". Málaga de Cultura (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- Bischof, Hugo. "Kunst - "Maske des Dante": In Luzern erinnert eine Skulptur an den Schöpfer der "Göttlichen Komödie"". Luzerner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- "Osthaus Museum Hagen". www.osthausmuseum.de. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- "Serge Sorokko Gallery - Exhibitions". sorokko-gallery. Retrieved 2023-07-11.