Russian artist and designer Dima Lamonov takes a nostalgic cultural icon and infuses it with a vibrant pulse of modernity in his “Matreksha” sculpture series. Reimagining the traditional Matrioshka doll through the lens of today’s digital aesthetic, Lamonov blurs the lines between folk art and contemporary design. Each sculpture serves as a playful nod to the pixelated charm of early video games, combining past and present in a form that feels both familiar and refreshingly unexpected.
Crafted entirely by hand, the “Matreksha” pieces showcase Lamonov’s mastery over his materials—concrete, gypsum, and airbrush work come together to form sleek yet character-filled silhouettes. The bold color palette and blocky textures create a visual rhythm that’s almost animated, yet deeply tactile. It’s a unique intersection where craftsmanship meets code, translating the analog feel of sculpting into a digital-daydream aesthetic.
What makes the collection particularly magnetic is how it transforms something deeply rooted in Russian culture into an object that resonates globally. There’s humor in the reinterpretation, but also a thoughtful commentary on how cultural symbols evolve in a tech-saturated world. Lamonov’s work captures a kind of joyful distortion, where the sentimental becomes stylized and tradition takes on a new, pixelated face.
