Self-portrait against the background of Africa 1991-1993 years of creation.

This story began sadly, with the death of my grandmother Nyura. It happened when I was 17 years old. That day my parents went to the funeral and asked me to look after the household and the garden. My elder sister then was pregnant and already lived separately, and the middle sister went with our parents to help. Grandmother Nyura was my favorite grandmother. Too bad I didn't see much of her, but I remember her very well. This beautiful heroic woman survived with three little ones boys
in the territory through which the WWII front passed twice. Grandmother Nyura and her husband, the war hero Grandfather Gora deserve a separate story, which I will definitely write. And then I was very sad for my grandmother. So, I invited some friends to share my sadness. We drank a lot of mother's homemade blackcurrant wine, listened to African Burundian drums record on the recently traded for an "extra" "The Beatles" vinil and talked endlessly. And I was lying on my father's couch in such clothes as shown in the picture, except that my head, my arms, legs and body were normal, everything in general was exactly the same as on the picture.

On the wall there was a huge political map of the world, and just above me here was Africa. I painted the initial picture over the following days in oil on cardboard. Yes, and I really had two glasses with slightly different wines. Similar as on image, my thoughts at that time were just like that, divided into sectors and contrasting colors, because among the external fun were hidden sectors of furious pain from my loss. And inability to make up for forever lost communication with my beloved grandmother. In addition, I always thought that there is a lot of Africa in my soul, therefore, in the portrait I have a second African head, and the body is also not white at all. It seems to me that this picture is the best illustration of human consciousness, brought up on friendship and respect for other cultures. In this picture literally Russia and Africa are physically connected, floating together in a world of harmonious patterns. Yes, and the two glasses here are actually symbolic and represent the blessing of this alliance of equal friendship.

The original of this work, created in 1991, burned down along with others oil paintings during a fire in my apartment in 1993. Having restored the picture according to the photo, I did not ever return to oil paints.
Perhaps it turned out a little thinner, since during this time my technique changed to more fine. Unfortunately, over time, these photos were lost due to endless moving. However, I still have some hope in finding them, well, if there be luck.