The key concept in Ilya Fedotov-Fedorov’s work is the “uncanny valley.” The artist creates works that frequently feature masks, distorted faces, and forms reminiscent of living beings. These images evoke a sense of unease and create a conict between recognition and alienation, between the human and the non-human. Masks serve as both a metaphor and a tool for bodily dissociation. They create a distance between a person’s physical form and their identity. As an instrument of transformation, the mask becomes not merely an object but a separate organism capable of altering the wearer, weaving itself into their inner world, and
inuencing their perception of reality.

Each mask is both a means of protection against vulnerability and an act of aggression. Leather and fabric — the primary materials from which Ilya Fedotov-Fedorov creates his sculptures — become metaphors for the body, memory, and trauma. Leather bears the imprint of time and cruelty, while textiles symbolize softness and fragility. The works are also built on a play of contradictions: ufy, soothing materials associated with childhood and safety allow faces with unsettling features to emerge, creating a sense of tension in the viewer.

(c) Anna Nova Gallery