PAINTING
Sergey Dyomin (Latvia)
“I tend not to dwell on things I cannot influence, on matters beyond my control, for which I bear no responsibility, to which I cannot contribute, or which I cannot change. In the vast cosmic soup in which we all simmer, we’ve been granted the rare and random privilege of experiencing life. Nothing more, nothing less. Becoming a painter, too, was a matter of chance. At some point, I discovered joy in the simple act of drawing. Later, I couldn’t imagine life without it – everything else faded into insignificance. There is deep fulfilment in creating something, in the pure pleasure of the process. That is why I still cannot conceive of an existence untouched by the act of painting. Although it has become part of my daily rhythm – its finest part – it continues to ignite something within me each time I return to it. It allows me to feel truly alive.” With these words, Dyomin offers a glimpse into the inner drive that has shaped his artistic path.
The exhibition bears the succinct title “Painting”, and that is precisely its message. It reflects the artist’s passion for what he loves and where he excels. Naturally, the pieces on display may spark reflection on Darwinism, the symbiosis of religion and power structures, the displacement of primates from their natural habitats, and their use in scientific research. One might discuss the themes of justice and truth. Yet the only enduring truth lies in self-recognition – the ability to see one’s questions, struggles, or sensitivities mirrored in places and images that resonate with the viewer’s emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Dyomin does not shy away from that recognition and observes with quiet curiosity what else the viewer will discover in his painting.
Born in 1974 in Rīga, Dyomin grew up in a family of professionals – his father a lawyer, and mother an economist. While his sister would follow in her parents’ footsteps and pursue a banking career in Switzerland, Dyomin carved a markedly different path. Following an early diagnosis of scoliosis, his schooling took place mainly in a specialised boarding school for children with special needs, followed by studies at Rīga Special Secondary School No. 66, where he faced both physical and social challenges. Yet his fondest memories are of quiet hours spent with his grandfather Anatol, a retired army man, in a garden allotment in the Ziepniekkalns district. After secondary school, Dyomin enrolled in the Faculty of History and Philosophy at the University of Latvia and earned a bachelor’s degree. Instead of pursuing a master’s, he preferred to train as a jeweller – his first step out of the grey routineness of the day-to-day into a more colourful and tactile creative world. After an unsuccessful attempt to enter the Art Academy of Latvia, he enrolled in its preparatory courses, where he met Kristīne Jansone. They would go on to study together and become a couple, eventually formalising their relationship.
Since graduating in 2001, Dyomin has steadily established his presence on the Latvian and international art scenes through numerous group exhibitions and several solo shows. His work has been featured in prestigious international venues, including SCOPE Basel, CONTEXT New York, the START Art Fair with the Saatchi gallery and many more.
The exhibition was produced in partnership with Zuzeum Art Centre and Bastejs Gallery.
On view at the Rothko Museum from 30 May to 24 August 2025.
Curated by Aivars Baranovskis.
Publicity image: Sergey Dyomin. “Spider Monkey”. Oil on canvas. 90 x 70 cm. 2021. Photo Oleg Zernov.
