Exchange
Artyom Khazanov/Shipao
Context
Horses with wave-shaped, curved legs are a reference to Mezen painting — a traditional folk art form from northern Russia. Figures in Mezen decorative art were typically depicted in two traditional colors of Palashchel painting: red and black. In folk symbolism, red horses represented the rising sun. Photo: culture.ru
The Youth Center of Arkhangelsk Region has become an important hub for the local art community. Back in 2012, the first graffiti started appearing on one of the center’s walls, eventually becoming a milestone in the development of the city’s street culture. The initiative to create the original graffiti came from Artyom Khazanov and Dyadya Yo (Uncle Yo, Logos), whose curatorial concept was to unite all the local graffiti writers on a single wall.
In 2020, this ambitious project culminated in a two-day festival called "Vykhodi!" ("Come Out!"), which brought together 15 artists, including Artyom Khazanov, TPK, KhZK, LYA, Shipa, Kvik, Schew, and others. After the building underwent reconstruction, the original wall paintings were lost. In 2022, the artists reunited to continue the chronicle of local graffiti culture and create a new large-scale mural featuring contributions from several generations of graffiti creators.
In 2020, this ambitious project culminated in a two-day festival called "Vykhodi!" ("Come Out!"), which brought together 15 artists, including Artyom Khazanov, TPK, KhZK, LYA, Shipa, Kvik, Schew, and others. After the building underwent reconstruction, the original wall paintings were lost. In 2022, the artists reunited to continue the chronicle of local graffiti culture and create a new large-scale mural featuring contributions from several generations of graffiti creators.
A vivid example of this approach is the mural "Exchange", in which the artist emphasizes the importance of communication in the evolution of society.
The mushroom forager becomes a symbol of the older generation, passing down knowledge to a younger person holding a smartphone. The connection between the two figures represents the continuous cycle of exchange: knowledge is transferred, adapted, and transformed into new ideas and technologies.
The image of the forager also refers to the local saying "The Arkhangelsk mushroom feeds all of Russia", linking the work to its regional context. The backdrop of the composition resembles a colorful patchwork quilt — a metaphor for transforming old materials into something new and unified. This visual reflects the idea that the past holds valuable lessons and resources for building the future. The artist also incorporated patterns and motifs from traditional northern Mezen painting.
The mushroom forager becomes a symbol of the older generation, passing down knowledge to a younger person holding a smartphone. The connection between the two figures represents the continuous cycle of exchange: knowledge is transferred, adapted, and transformed into new ideas and technologies.
The image of the forager also refers to the local saying "The Arkhangelsk mushroom feeds all of Russia", linking the work to its regional context. The backdrop of the composition resembles a colorful patchwork quilt — a metaphor for transforming old materials into something new and unified. This visual reflects the idea that the past holds valuable lessons and resources for building the future. The artist also incorporated patterns and motifs from traditional northern Mezen painting.
The walls of the Youth Center preserve a significant layer of northern urban art and works by several generations of artists. Graffiti remains the city's dominant visual language. Still, some artists, including Artyom Khazanov, have turned to other forms of creative expression, rooted in narrative and resonating with a broader audience.
The Youth Center of Arkhangelsk Region has become an important hub for the local art community. Back in 2012, the first graffiti started appearing on one of the center’s walls, eventually becoming a milestone in the development of the city’s street culture. The initiative to create the original graffiti came from Artyom Khazanov and Dyadya Yo (Uncle Yo, Logos), whose curatorial concept was to unite all the local graffiti writers on a single wall.
In 2020, this ambitious project culminated in a two-day festival called "Vykhodi!" ("Come Out!"), which brought together 15 artists, including Artyom Khazanov, TPK, KhZK, LYA, Shipa, Kvik, Schew, and others. After the building underwent reconstruction, the original wall paintings were lost. In 2022, the artists reunited to continue the chronicle of local graffiti culture and create a new large-scale mural featuring contributions from several generations of graffiti creators.
The walls of the Youth Center preserve a significant layer of northern urban art and works by several generations of artists. Graffiti remains the city’s dominant visual language. Still, some artists, including Artyom Khazanov, have turned to other forms of creative expression, rooted in narrative and resonating with a broader audience.
In 2020, this ambitious project culminated in a two-day festival called "Vykhodi!" ("Come Out!"), which brought together 15 artists, including Artyom Khazanov, TPK, KhZK, LYA, Shipa, Kvik, Schew, and others. After the building underwent reconstruction, the original wall paintings were lost. In 2022, the artists reunited to continue the chronicle of local graffiti culture and create a new large-scale mural featuring contributions from several generations of graffiti creators.
The walls of the Youth Center preserve a significant layer of northern urban art and works by several generations of artists. Graffiti remains the city’s dominant visual language. Still, some artists, including Artyom Khazanov, have turned to other forms of creative expression, rooted in narrative and resonating with a broader audience.
The wall of the Youth Center before reconstruction. Photo: news29.ru
The wall of the Youth Center after reconstruction. Photo: news29.ru
A vivid example of this approach is the mural "Exchange", in which the artist emphasizes the importance of communication in the evolution of society.
The mushroom forager becomes a symbol of the older generation, passing down knowledge to a younger person holding a smartphone. The connection between the two figures represents the continuous cycle of exchange: knowledge is transferred, adapted, and transformed into new ideas and technologies.
The image of the forager also refers to the local saying "The Arkhangelsk mushroom feeds all of Russia", linking the work to its regional context. The backdrop of the composition resembles a colorful patchwork quilt — a metaphor for transforming old materials into something new and unified. This visual reflects the idea that the past holds valuable lessons and resources for building the future. The artist also incorporated patterns and motifs from traditional northern Mezen painting.
The mushroom forager becomes a symbol of the older generation, passing down knowledge to a younger person holding a smartphone. The connection between the two figures represents the continuous cycle of exchange: knowledge is transferred, adapted, and transformed into new ideas and technologies.
The image of the forager also refers to the local saying "The Arkhangelsk mushroom feeds all of Russia", linking the work to its regional context. The backdrop of the composition resembles a colorful patchwork quilt — a metaphor for transforming old materials into something new and unified. This visual reflects the idea that the past holds valuable lessons and resources for building the future. The artist also incorporated patterns and motifs from traditional northern Mezen painting.
Horses with wave-shaped, curved legs are a reference to Mezen painting — a traditional folk art form from northern Russia. Figures in Mezen decorative art were typically depicted in two traditional colors of Palashchel painting: red and black. In folk symbolism, red horses represented the rising sun. Photo: culture.ru
Process
Art object form: mural
Style: realism
Material: facade and spray paint
Style: realism
Material: facade and spray paint
Another special feature of the mural is its surface — the work was painted on the wall of a former outdoor climbing wall. Its curved and uneven shape was a real challenge for the artist, but thanks to careful planning and calculations, Artyom Khazanov managed to create the mural with minimal perspective distortion.
During the days the mural was being painted, a public gathering was held on the grounds of the Youth Center in the Arkhangelsk Region. Artyom Khazanov spoke about the concept behind his work and the challenges of creating the mural, while the project’s creative producer — art historian Semyon Nekrasov — discussed the goals of public art in a broader context.
The meeting took place outdoors, right next to the mural. Residents of Arkhangelsk had the chance to ask the artist their questions and take part in a friendly discussion over tea and pies.
The meeting took place outdoors, right next to the mural. Residents of Arkhangelsk had the chance to ask the artist their questions and take part in a friendly discussion over tea and pies.
Interesting facts about the work:
- It took 11 days to paint the mural
- 11 meters is the top point of the climb, on which the artist worked
- 280 cylinders of spray paint and 120 liters of facade paint were used up
- 135 colors contains the mural
- The prototype of the boy is the artist's son Mark
Another special feature of the mural is its surface — the work was painted on the wall of a former outdoor climbing wall. Its curved and uneven shape was a real challenge for the artist, but thanks to careful planning and calculations, Artyom Khazanov managed to create the mural with minimal perspective distortion.
During the days the mural was being painted, a public gathering was held on the grounds of the Youth Center in the Arkhangelsk Region. Artyom Khazanov spoke about the concept behind his work and the challenges of creating the mural, while the project’s creative producer — art historian Semyon Nekrasov — discussed the goals of public art in a broader context.
The meeting took place outdoors, right next to the mural. Residents of Arkhangelsk had the chance to ask the artist their questions and take part in a friendly discussion over tea and pies.
The meeting took place outdoors, right next to the mural. Residents of Arkhangelsk had the chance to ask the artist their questions and take part in a friendly discussion over tea and pies.
Interesting facts about the work:
- It took 11 days to paint the mural
- 11 meters is the top point of the climb, on which the artist worked
- 280 cylinders of spray paint and 120 liters of facade paint were used up
- 135 colors contains the mural
- The prototype of the boy is the artist's son Mark
Author
- Artyom Khazanov/Shipao (Arkhangelsk)ArtistMy work is dedicated to the theme of evolution and exchange, which has become the foundation of modern banking. The mushroom forager symbolizes the older generation passing down its experience to the younger one, represented by the figure of a child with a smartphone.
- Artyom Khazanov/Shipao (Arkhangelsk)ArtistMy work is dedicated to the theme of evolution and exchange, which has become the foundation of modern banking. The mushroom forager symbolizes the older generation passing down its experience to the younger one, represented by the figure of a child with a smartphone.
Artyom Khazanov (Shipao) is a street artist from Arkhangelsk.
He paints on a wide range of surfaces — concrete, plaster, metal, and more. Often, the composition of his works is shaped by the texture and imperfections of the wall he’s working on.
In addition to graffiti, he creates large-scale murals on residential buildings and takes part in numerous exhibitions and festivals.
He paints on a wide range of surfaces — concrete, plaster, metal, and more. Often, the composition of his works is shaped by the texture and imperfections of the wall he’s working on.
In addition to graffiti, he creates large-scale murals on residential buildings and takes part in numerous exhibitions and festivals.
"Play" (in collaboration with Andrey "Dikey"), Blagoveshchensk, 2023
"Flowers and Grandpa-Bublik", Murmansk, 2022
Artyom Khazanov (Shipao) is a street artist from Arkhangelsk.
He paints on a wide range of surfaces — concrete, plaster, metal, and more. Often, the composition of his works is shaped by the texture and imperfections of the wall he’s working on.
In addition to graffiti, he creates large-scale murals on residential buildings and takes part in numerous exhibitions and festivals.
He paints on a wide range of surfaces — concrete, plaster, metal, and more. Often, the composition of his works is shaped by the texture and imperfections of the wall he’s working on.
In addition to graffiti, he creates large-scale murals on residential buildings and takes part in numerous exhibitions and festivals.
"Play" (in collaboration with Andrey "Dikey"), Blagoveshchensk, 2023
"Flowers and Grandpa-Bublik", Murmansk, 2022
The mural was created by
Artyom Khazanov
Artist
Semyon Nekrasov
Creative Producer
Andrey Melekhov
Technical Director
Maria Kochneva
Executive producer of the project
Maria Ushakova
Creative producer of the project
Polina Ej
Project Manager
Yulia Bulygina
Communications Manager
Ivan Fiev
Development Director
Anton Seleznev
Photographer
Roman Vlasov
Videographer