Anton Lyalin
Russia, born 1972
Anton Lyalin was born in Sochi, Russia. Lyalin took his first voyage to Africa in 2001. He was immediately hooked and enchanted with Africa’s unique color palette, pristine environment, raw wisdom and its inherent wild side. Thus began a long-term love affair with the country, one that eventually led to his pursuit of the art of photography.
For 18 years Lyalin focused on creating black and white images, photographed across the continent. His first collection of work, “Portrait of Africa”, was published as a book in 2012, by the State Russian Museum. Most of the work created between 2013 and 2018 was photographed with a medium format infrared camera. In 2019, he released his first color images. These captivating photographs resemble the tone and grain of old film. With a monochromatic color spectrum, they reveal a raw African landscape and a unique photographic vision.
A portrait photographer at heart, Lyalin focuses on the individual characteristics of each wild animal. Lyalin’s silent moments, positioned face-to-face with wildlife, evoke a sense of mystery and intimacy where it seems that sometimes the animal is the observer of the photographer. It is as though Lyalin has received permission directly from nature to take its portrait, to reveal its personality, its mood, its splendor, and we are the beneficiary. Utilizing a dramatic sense of light, Lyalin’s choices of vantage points highlight the subtleties that distinguish these figures. This can include a glance resembling that of a human or a posture or movement that differentiates them from their pack. Just like us, these animals are emotive: “they can be sad, compassionate, supportive or foolish,” Lyalin explains. Capturing these aspects reminds us of the brilliant power, grandeur and fragility of nature.
Lyalin returns to Africa often, continuously exploring new angles of the continent. On his journeys he seeks out symbols of eternal beauty, spirits of freedom and Mother Nature’s endless insight. These explorations give Lyalin a break from the fuss of everyday life and help him understand the real power of a moment and the energy it holds. He hopes his work conveys this feeling to the viewer.
Anton Lyalin lives and works in Moscow, Russia. His work is exhibited in leading galleries and museums world-wide. He recently had a retrospective at the State Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg. Lyalin made his US debut with a solo exhibition at Sohn Fine Art in Lenox, Massachusetts in 2015. Since then he has shown in the Duncan Miller Gallery in Los Angeles, CA and recently debuted his color work in a solo exhibition at Sohn Fine Art in 2019.
