About The Artist

Clouds, trees, water, light, combined but individually defined in a moment frozen in time. Picture frames that capture the before and prolong the after in compositions filled with emotions like the memories Andrei Kantsarau retrieves and brings back to life.

Born in 1972, on an early autumn day in the city of Kyzyl, the geometric centre of Asia, Andrei was raised in an environment that oozes with nature.  After graduating from the Surikov Art school in Krasnoyarsk it was to no ones wonder why Andrei continued his studies in Architecture.  This was a way to experiment and define the relationship between human and his environment, how urban living can co-exist with nature.   It is then when he discovered and connected the sensitivity of fine arts with the orthological thinking of Architecture. Science and art found a match that continued after graduating from the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute.  His way of thinking and approaching of architecture was a new way of expressing art with human being in the centre, leading into being anointed to Head designer in landscape architecture by the City Executive Committee in Minsk, leaving his mark into one of the most important and vast projects that took place in Belarus, a position he held proudly until 2002.

In 2012 while being in his most creative and productive phase, with his private practice and many projects along the way, an accident led into being unable to move. The unfortunate event lead to an extensive period of rehabilitation that included surgery and many months of physiotherapy to regain movement.  After recovery he decided to dedicate his life in fine arts and serve them as a professional artist.

Andrei’s work is influenced by the old masters to a large extent.  Memories from his homeland and his new life he builded upon relocating to Cyprus lead into landscapes that are filled with emotion.  It’s not about replicating the picture, but to capture the moment that the elements created and presented. A perfect moment between past, present and future.  His style or “maniera” follows the works of the classics expressed in a way that someone could identify his style as contemporary romanticism.  As with the 18th and 19th century movement his landscapes approach but never interfere or compete artworks  created by masters like Goya, Blake or Turner.  Guided in a way that nature and especially the elements that are implemented into the theme, play their individual part and have their own voice in complete harmony. The elemental forces in his art, inspire an emotional reaction in order to achieve the sublime that the old masters where aiming for.

The vastness of his mountain landscapes, the wild and rugged landscapes of the black lakes, the emotional thrill of the clouds and the stormy sea, the awe of the picturesque villages and misty forests, the silence of a snowy peak create an atmosphere that light, air and time create the perfect canvas. After all that is what Andrei Kantsarau’s art is all about. Merging the elements into a composition that force the human psyche to be awakened and expressed in such a unique way that is somewhat strange but always familiar and soothing. 

Aristos Alekou , Studies in European History, Culture and Heritage