Although Mikhail Starostin works in different styles - expressionism, realism, abstractionism, primitivism - all his works clearly share the same overarching theme. No matter what genre he works in, he depicts people of the North - nomads, hunters, and fishermen. In his characters, the artist embodies the features of the national character of the Northern peoples - closeness with nature and space.
The watercolour ‘On the Way Home’ depicts a traveller in a snow desert. The painter portrays a lonely, fragile figure of a man who tries to resist harsh nature. To help him survive in any situation, the man carries various tools and utensils: a casting net, a spoon, a kettle, a knife, and ropes.
A casting net was used to catch fish and get food for the day. A knife was a must-have for every man: it was used both in hunting and fishing for cutting up prey, for cooking and eating.
‘On the Way Home’ is the author’s reflection on his own destiny and creative path. The artist has found a new metaphor to develop the theme: he compares the search for a vocation to the way of life of a nomad, who is constantly on the move. The Northern man in the picture embodies “the ideal” of stamina and perseverance. He keeps going forward despite all the trials that he encounters on his way home.
Starostin seeks to understand the character of the Northerners and translate it into art. This feature of his work some call “ethnic psychology”. He continues to study the interaction of man and the nature of the North. The author manifests himself both as an artist and a philosopher who, through art, seeks answers to deep philosophical questions.
Mikhail Starostin is a well-known Yakut artist, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia and one of the designers of the State Flag of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). His works are permeated with tender affection for his native land, connection with time and history. The artist continues to depict the peoples of the North and explore features of their national character. His works are in the collections of Russian and foreign museums.
