In our blog, we've already examined the erotic ex-libris of the Japanese masters Shin Taga and Alphonse Inoue. While the printed miniatures of these artists portrayed rather dark and decadent Eros, the works of world-renowned ex-libris artist Ruslan Agirba (b. 1957) celebrate love as the vital force that "moves the Sun and other stars."
Fig. 1. Ruslan Agirba (facebook.com)
Fig. 2. Cupid and Psyche (exlibris-competition-varna.org)
Fig. 3. Warriors of the Past (exlibris-artshop.com)
Fig. 4. Eros and Thanatos (facebook.com)
Fig. 5. Hobbyhorse (facebook.com)
Fig. 6. Robinson Crusoe (facebook.com)
Fig. 7. Knights (bestnetart.com)
Fig. 8. Musketeers (bestnetart.com)
Fig. 9. Nymphs (bestnetart.com)
Fig. 10. Leda and the Swan (art-exlibris.net)
Art as a Mission
Ruslan Agirba was born in Batumi, Georgia. He started drawing at the age of four, influenced by his mother, a clothes designer. Although Agirba was expected to become an engineer due to his aptitude for STEM disciplines, he remembered the words of his school teacher who called him a true artist back when the boy was only in the 4th grade. As Agirba says, this title always seemed much more important than the diploma in engineering. Understanding art as his mission, he enrolled at the Batumi Art College and then at the State Art Academy in Tbilisi. For reasons unknown, he didn't finish his studies. In 1980, at 23, he visited his friends in Kyiv and decided to stay there for good. For several years, he was working as a designer at the local baked goods factory. Only in 1990 did he graduate from Kyiv University of Printing and Publishing and found his lifework in creating richly decorated bookplates for collectors worldwide. Now Agirba resides in Ukraine and posts fresh works on his Facebook.
Fig. 11. Leda (bestnetart.com)
Continue reading in Premium and discover Agirba's artistic statement, more on his recurring images of Don Quixote, many additional artworks, and MUCH more.
Click HERE for an earlier article on the erotic bookplates of Shin Taga
What do you think about Agirba's ex libris art? Leave your reaction in the comment box below..!!
