Vadim Garine

Gilder

A golden dance with materials

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.

Interview

How do you select your materials?: I choose my materials for their unique ability to capture light. Cardboard, woven textiles, plant fibres, aluminum: these simple materials reveal a rhythm and texture through gold leaf. Materials are the words with which I tell a story.
Is cardboard a challenging medium to work with?: Cardboard requires special attention, it is true. I must adapt to its texture and fibres, and accept both its resistance and its imperfections. My research is based on cutting and positioning of cardboard to uncover the most beautiful of possibilities.
How introspective is your work?: Each artwork takes shape through a silent encounter between me and the material, the idea and its incarnation. The choice of techniques and forms is not merely about assembling these elements but about seeking a deep connection.
How would you describe your objects?: My artistic work is a profound listening and a quest for resonance. My studio becomes a space where dreams unfold, a place where the creative act speaks a language.

Vadim Garine is a master artisan: he began his career in 1994 and he started teaching in 1999