Between us by Irina Merkulova
Explore Mondoir Studio
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 50 x 60 cm
Year: 2025
Price: $1348.00 USD
Status: available
In creating this piece, I was inspired by the quiet, unspoken connection that exists between two souls. It’s about the intimacy found in shared moments, where words are unnecessary. The warm, earthy tones envelop the figures, creating a cocoon of safety and belonging, reminiscent of autumn leaves embracing the earth. The composition is a dance of geometric shapes, each curve and angle reflecting the harmonious balance of two lives intertwined. The soft browns and rich oranges invite a sense of warmth and comfort, making it feel like a timeless embrace. The subtle clock face hints at the fleeting nature of these moments, yet also suggests that true connection transcends time. I hope this piece speaks to the heart, reminding viewers of the beauty in simple, shared experiences. It’s meant to evoke a sense of peace and reflection, fitting seamlessly into any space that values warmth and modern elegance. May it inspire you to cherish the quiet, profound connections in your own life.
Why collect this work?
Two profiles are compressed into one interlocking silhouette, making intimacy appear less as an embrace than as a temporary reordering of separate identities.
- Merkulova describes her practice as concerned with feminine presence and inner stillness. Here, that aim is pursued through guarded expressions and a face assembled from overlapping parts rather than conventional likeness.
- In the photograph, the forward figure’s long neck, stacked hands and open eye intersect with a second, closed-eyed profile. A leaf-like form, tilted hat and small clock face pull attention outward while framing the pair’s contact.
- Catalogued as oil on canvas, the painting sets broad, opaque shapes against softly varied passages. Oil makes both crisp contouring and gradual tonal modulation possible, although the photograph cannot establish the surface texture or exact colour.
- The clock motif gives the merged portrait a temporal edge: closeness is pictured as both sustained and passing. That tension provides a concrete reason to encounter the work alongside contemporary paintings that reconsider how portraiture represents relationships rather than individuals.
About the Artist
Irina Merkulova
Irina Merkulova is an artist on Mondoir Studio. Artistic discipline: painting. Based in Dubai, AE.
Nationality: Russian
I am interested in moments of inner stillness — states that exist beyond narrative, time, or place.
