Russian visual artist and motion designer Maxim Zhestkov creates extraordinary visual stories via digital design and animation. Through his work, Zhestkov pushes the viewers perceptions of reality but creating hyper-surreal art films. His latest piece, titled Layers chronicles a black cube as it morphs and opens, revealing it’s colorful core. Placed in a fictional gallery space, the monolithic black square is dissected with an invisible force, showing its juxtaposing center. Before receiving a masters in graphic design and fine art, Zhestkov studied architecture, a theme reoccurring throughout the series he launched in 2017. By placing each impossible sculpture in his each short, including Elements and Volumes, inside an imaginary exhibition-style room, the audience is forced to view the object as tangible art. These explorations are always matched with his own mesmerizing sound design. 

Words: Paola de Oliveira