Illustration for The Ural Tales 

Vyacheslav Nazaruk created this illustration for "The Ural Tales." It captures an interior scene with two figures: an old woman in traditional dress and a young boy. The composition is striking; notice the use of sharp, angular lines juxtaposed with softer, organic shapes. The earthy tones, dominated by browns and greens, create a somber mood, yet the splashes of brighter colors in the woman's attire offer a visual counterpoint. Nazaruk’s application of paint, particularly in the background, appears almost fragmented, reminiscent of collage. This technique creates a semiotic puzzle. Is Nazaruk commenting on the fragmented nature of memory or the construction of identity through folklore? The spatial ambiguity challenges our perception, destabilizing the conventional relationship between figure and ground. Perhaps Nazaruk invites us to consider the narratives we construct and the fluid boundaries between reality and myth. In its very form, the artwork suggests that meaning is not fixed, but constantly negotiated through visual and cultural signs.