200 × 210 cm with frame included

Unique work

Bayu, Bayuschki — titled after the Russian lullaby Bayu Bayushki Bayu — reflects on a youth shaped by war, militarization, and ideological conditioning. The painting presents the same boy in two different states: on the left, proud, disciplined, and full of expectation; on the right, marked by the emotional consequences of a life shaped by military service.

At first, the uniform symbolizes belonging, recognition, and strength. The young recruit looks toward the future with confidence, carried by promises of honor, identity, and purpose. Yet over time, this image begins to transform. The living human presence slowly becomes hollow — grey, rigid, and emotionally exhausted. The medals, titles, and distinctions cannot replace what has been lost: innocence, humanity, and soul.

The division within the composition emphasizes this inner collapse. The left side still contains depth, color, and hope, while the right side becomes increasingly dominated by monotony, coldness, and emptiness. The Russian lullaby, originally associated with comfort and protection, stands here in sharp contrast to the reality of a life shaped by war from an early age.

Bayu, Bayuschki becomes a quiet portrait of how systems can turn children into soldiers — and of what may be lost deep within a person in the process.