Iliya Baidak

Iliya Baidak 
Cloudberryset 
2019 
mixed media 

In the work of Murmansk-based Iliya Baidak, a giant arctic cloudberry sets on the horizon instead of the sun. Known for creating numerous striking murals, Baidak combines graphic elements with the color palette familiar from street art. The surreal landscape unfolds like a scene that could be scrolled down and sideways, as if it were an image opening on a computer screen. 

In 2019, the Arctic Arts Summit was held in Rovaniemi. In connection with the event, the Rovaniemi Art Museum organized Arctic // Street Art // Summit and invited five artists from the Nordic region to continue the series of Art Windows on Korundi’s Lapinkävijäntie-facing wall. The artists were Iliya Baidak (Murmansk, Russia), Anders Sunna (Jokkmokk, Sápmi), Vemund Thoe (Tromsø, Norway), Hanna Kanto (Helsinki, Finland), and Samuli Kontio (Rovaniemi, Finland). The artists of the North drew their inspiration from the surrounding nature and culture. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Norwegian curatorial collective Pikene på Broen.