OLD FRIDGE NEW
This fridge, located in my friend’s art and textile studio in Vladivostok, has been my canvas twice, with a 15 year gap in between. In 2009, inspired by the growing European graffiti movement, I transformed an old fridge into a piece of art. Here’s the original creation:
Painting fridge I created in 2009.
Fast forward to 2024, I decided to repair the damaged sections while preserving the essence of the original design. Feel free to compare the two images and decide for yourself if I qualify as a conservator-restorer for my own art! In my humble opinion, the answer is no – I’ll always find ways to improve it!
Re-painted version of 2024.
FIRST PAINTING IN 2009
In 2009, I was eager to paint on the most bizzare, unusual and unexpected surfaces – objects no one would typically think to paint. I was captivated by the freedom street artists embraced, turning the most unexpected locations into their canvas.
I created art everywhere. This period was a turning point in my career, when I transformed the walls in my apartment, made stencil graffiti around my neighborhood, and even took over a friend’s kitchen to repaint their old fridge!
Photography has always inspired me, and when I came across an image of a practicing sumo girl, I knew she would become the centerpiece of the fridge painting.
After a day's work, the fridge had a fresh new look, one that would last for the next 15 years!
However, the paint was too fragile to withstand everyday use over the next decade and a half. By 2024, the fridge was in poor condition and needed immediate attention.
SECOND PAINTING IN 2024
We were all determined to ‘save the girl’, so instead of repainting the entire fridge, I decided to add colorful patches to the damaged areas, giving it a renewed life. Initially, I planned to only restore the damaged sections of the image, but as always, you never know where inspiration will take you!
Here you can see how, сaptivated by the process, I delve deeper and deeper into painting:
And now, the fridge has been revived – freshened up and ready for another 15 years!
And, of course, I wasn’t alone in using fridge as a canvas or a source of inspiration! Here are some great examples of painted fridges of fridge-related art objects, to see the few:
