GREGORY LARIN: TALENTED BY NATURE, POWERED BY TABOO
I will never work with people who want to be like everyone else.
Gregory Larin, in an interview to Sostav
Immersed in the nuances of unconventionalism, nonconformism, otherness, taboo and fetish, Gregory Larin lives, loves, hurts, creates, experiences, enjoys and digs deeper into himself.
Born in Tula, Russia, long known as a melting pot of traditional crafts and metalworking, he started experimenting with creativity as a child. At 13, he dipped a needle, wrapped in thread, in ink – to see if he could himself make a tattoo on his arm. To this day, the traces of this experiment remain, although barely visible.
At 19, Gregory moved to Israel where, like all locals, joined the army: the Israeli Air Force, as an aircraft builder.
That is where he rediscovered an artist within, alongside the underlying principles of his peculiar artistic technique. Soon after joining, he was asked to produce a heart-shaped metal keyholder for one of the commanders. By the end of military service, Gregory had his own workshop where he was producing all sorts of trinkets on request from military commanders, but with no military purpose whatsoever.
In 2007, he graduated with honors in Jewelry Design from Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Tel-Aviv. From then on, for many years he was working in his Old Jaffa studio and teaching jewellery design at Tel-Hai Academic College and other Israeli design schools.
Today Gregory talks to me from Berlin, where he currently lives and works.
Sometimes I misbehave like this: I dress provocatively and take a walk around the city. In my performances, I used sound effects and noises to bring the audience to a certain degree of discomfort. Or, for example, I showcased my work in an old, enamel baby bathtub instead of a sparkling podium.
Gregory Larin, in an interview to Sostav
For the artist, creativity comes in waves: when he is happy or unhappy, going through climax or drama, navigating his ups or downs. But whatever he does, whatever he creates, it must be needed by someone, sold, used and worn. If people do not purchase it, if it is not needed by anyone, this kind of creation is unacceptable and pointless, says Gregory.
In his vision of the world and human existence, Gregory is a total punk. Very lively, enjoying life, energetic and talkative, after relocating to Berlin, he talks about trying out DJing, apart from his staple jewelry and sculpture. Formerly a metalhead, he now prefers music with a peculiar, distorted, kind of "broken" rhythm, allowing it to accompany him whenever he is creating, going through the whirlpool of emotions – to finally overcome, process, reflect and produce something extremely conceptual.
Among the most recognizable pieces, are his statement, crimson Heart Bracelet (the curious ones can even look into the X-rays of its structure); the leaking, crude oil-colored Melting Black Heart Bracelet️; the Nice to Meat You Brooch (an anti-tribute to dictatorship); and the Anatomic Heart Necklace, with red and blue veins coming in and out of the centrepiece.
Conventional beauty seems hopelessly dull to me. I’m constantly creating my own artistic language while looking for something that doesn’t exist yet. I’m literally hunting for the new perception of harmony, choosing admiration over blind rejection.
Gregory Larin in an interview to Current Obsession
In general, the theme of heart seems to be one of the most central in Gregory's pieces. But not your sickly sweet, syrupy pink or cloyingly golden, kitschy shape – a true heart, humane and dark, red, alive and beating, or desensitized up to the point of becoming cold and black.
The materials used in Gregory's works include both traditional precious metals and, among others, industrial waste, colored vinyl records, dried orange peels, aluminium combs, epoxy, optical bolts, processed books, synthetic hair, and acrylic teeth.
Right now Gregory Larin talks about scaling his works: shifting from jewelry to larger-scale sculpture.
Something even more peculiar is about to be born.
Wait and see.
The JI: If art was a city, what city would it be?
Gregory Larin: Currently for me it is Berlin, a city full of graffiti and freedom
The JI: A restaurant, cafe, bar in that city?
G.L.: I like Turkish döner kebab or just shawarma. Both can be found in the Kreuzberg area.
The JI: A place to have a good time with your friends?
G.L.: Berghain, definitely.
The JI: A place to be on your own?
G.L: I really love museums, I go there alone.
The JI: A gallery, bookshop, theatre – any cultural or arts location?
G.L.: I like concerts. For me that place is Astra Kulturhaus.
The JI: Music?
G.L.: Nacht Voll Schatten by Juliane Werding.
The JI: A person?
G.L.: Fedor Emelianenko (MMA fighter).
The JI: A book?
G.L.: And Quiet Flows the Don by Mikhail Sholokhov remains my cult book for many years.
The JI: Food?
G.L.: Maatjes herring, mashed potatoes and beer!
The JI: A movie?
G.L.: Saving Private Ryan, Counterfeiters (2007), Inglourious Basterds.
The JI: An emotion?
G.L.: I cry when it hurts.
The JI: A color, sound, scent?
G.L.: Olive color, the sound of distorted guitar, the smell of diesel fuel.
