Sergey Sovkov’s paintings of young gay men at play in and near the water have a fresh buoyancy that one doesn’t usually associate with Russian art. His styles are wide-ranging, from feather-light gouaches to impasto painting so thick it is like mosaic tiles.

Sovkov spoke to us by email, and we reprint his answers to our questions, mostly unedited to retain his voice,  below:

What is it like for you living in Russia today? Are you open about your sexuality and do you feel safe?
Russia today begins to slide to Soviet totalitarianism. Strict vertical of power, which was built by president, leaves less political space for democratic movement. This leads that public interest prevail over individual and civil rights. Corruption, impunity of society elites, controlled justice system, the degradation of education, all these factors will undoubtedly lead to the decline of the Russian society. Of course, I do not feel myself secure in such system. There is a fear of losing job, being subjected to vandalism. There is a fear for friends and relatives.

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