Nikolai Makarov

The water lily

2018

Born in Moscow in 1952, this world-renowned Russian-born artist has lived in Berlin since 1975. Makarov was formed between the two countries and developed techniques to create a universe recognizable among all: "the work of art must captivate the spectators by allowing them to immerse themselves in contemplation, putting its subject at the center of their minds and thoughts". In his works, Nikolai Makarov defies the limits of perception and seduces the senses by enveloping his subjects in a veil of translucent mist. Reality merges with the fantastic; his intention is to convey visually verifiable elements while veiling reality and modifying scenes in an atmospheric way. The more representation deviates from its incarnation of reality and the more subjective impression prevails, the more it is able to evoke heterogeneous but illusory associations. Nikolai Makarov is the founder of the Museum of Stillness, located in the historic center of Berlin. With the creation of this institution, Makarov was able to create a space that is close to his conception of the ideal mode of pictorial presentation. The large apartment, remodeled on his initiative, is considered by Makarov as a site of "sacred" meditation, in which the contemplative functioning of his paintings can perfectly unfold. A simply breathtaking place for the visitor. Makarov's paintings are present in many museum and public collections in the United States, Germany and Russia, including the Museum of Fine Arts (Leipzig), the Lindenau Museum (Altenau), the Museum of Modern Art - Berlinische Galerie (Berlin), the Arnot Museum of Art (New York)...