• Vadim’s works are poetic decorative compositions finished with gold leaf
• He learned iconography from a monastery at the foot of the Himalayas
• He has worked on decorating many churches over the years

Vadim Garine’s life began in the foothills of the Himalayas, between China and Kazakhstan, where he trained under a renowned iconographer. This artisan was a monk, who taught Vadim ancient techniques such as tempera, polishing and gilding. In 1996, Vadim moved to France, where he mastered object restoration and the art of gilding before opening his own atelier. Since then, his art has expressed a holistic vision of the universe. He explores the intimate relationship between matter and light, using gold leaf as a medium of transfiguration, harmoniously blending it with simple materials. "I like to work with jute, canvas, raffia and cardboard, and transform them into vibrant compositions," he explains. Vadim handcrafts wheat fields, mythical figures and metallic surfaces, and has also worked on gilding projects in buildings such as churches.