Draft:Serhii Polunin

Serhii Anatolyevich Polunin

Serhii Anatolyevich Polunin (born June 22, 1967) is a renowned netsuke carver, a follower of traditional Japanese bone carving. In his work, he combines the artistic techniques of the 18th century Osaka school with the achievements of the Edo carvers' school of the mid-19th century, as well as modern techniques.

Early Life and Education

Sergey Polunin was born in Magnitogorsk to Anatoly Polunin and Anna Polunina. The family later moved to Odessa. After finishing school, Sergey enrolled in a medical college, and from 1988 to 1993, he worked as a paramedic in an ambulance service.

After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Sergey enrolled in the law faculty of Mechnikov Institute and practiced law from 1996 to 2006. In 2006, after a trip to China, he was impressed by the art of netsuke carving and, upon returning home, began learning carving from renowned masters and studying antique works displayed in museums. In 2011, Sergey Polunin left his legal practice to fully focus on creating miniature sculptures.

Career

Characteristic features of Sergey Polunin's work include a unique style, compact composition, and energetic modeling of volumes. He achieves this through lively and vivid images, successfully interpreting classical plots in a contemporary vision, and his ability to convey mood and emotion with a few strokes. His works lack meticulous detailing, frequent use of engraving, and blackening, which were typical of the Edo school of the mid-19th century. While Sergey Polunin occasionally incorporates engraving and inlay into his works, these elements do not become the main expressive means. The uniqueness of the concept rather than the refinement of craftsmanship is more prominent in his work. His contemporaries appreciate his ability to create lively, dynamic, and psychologically credible scenes without disrupting the geometry of the volume or the compact composition, as well as his sense of humor in depicting various mythological subjects.

Sergey Polunin's style largely represents a blend of earlier Osaka and new Edo traditions. Due to his medical education, his works are anatomically accurate, with even mythological creatures appearing extremely realistic and lively. Sergey Polunin is also a follower of the wabi-sabi philosophy, which gives his works a unique combination of form and detail, allowing him to convey emotion and mood in netsuke with just a few chisel strokes.

Since 2014, Sergey Polunin has also been an author and co-author of jewelry, using his works as central elements. Traditionally, netsuke are not only collectibles but also accessories that highlight the unique style of their owner.

Most of Sergey Polunin's works are in private collections.

Personal Life

Sergey Polunin is married to Irina Polunina. They have one son, Denis Sergeyevich Polunin.