Context
"N" ("Nashe Mesto" — "Our Place") is the first creative cluster in Saratov, opened in the summer of 2023. The site has deep industrial roots: in 1895, the first workshops appeared here, eventually evolving into the city’s largest electrical engineering plant, GEKSAR, well known to every local resident.
Over time, the plant expanded, and in the 21st century, production became automated. This process freed up part of the space, which has now been transformed into a venue for a contemporary cultural hub. The creative cluster "Our Place", which has become a meeting point for the local creative community, inspired artist Timur Safarov to create a mural dedicated to the theme of friendship.
Over time, the plant expanded, and in the 21st century, production became automated. This process freed up part of the space, which has now been transformed into a venue for a contemporary cultural hub. The creative cluster "Our Place", which has become a meeting point for the local creative community, inspired artist Timur Safarov to create a mural dedicated to the theme of friendship.
- ForkArtistThe mural "Friendship" was designed with the architectural features of the building in mind. As I looked at the structure and thought about how to work with its protrusions, columns, and niches, the image of building a house out of children’s blocks and cubes came to me right away.
The mural tells a story of warm human connection. Timur depicted a clay-like house built from blocks and cubes, with "residents" placed between the floors, exchanging glances and interacting with one another. The composition reflects support, attentiveness, empathy, and care. The flexible forms and the links between the characters serve as a metaphor for human-centered fintech, while their diversity symbolizes community and collaboration. Each figure is unique, yet together they form something greater — a symbol of unity and shared growth.
"N" ("Nashe Mesto" — "Our Place") is the first creative cluster in Saratov, opened in the summer of 2023. The site has deep industrial roots: in 1895, the first workshops appeared here, eventually evolving into the city’s largest electrical engineering plant, GEKSAR, well known to every local resident.
Over time, the plant expanded, and in the 21st century, production became automated. This process freed up part of the space, which has now been transformed into a venue for a contemporary cultural hub. The creative cluster "Our Place", which has become a meeting point for the local creative community, inspired artist Timur Safarov to create a mural dedicated to the theme of friendship.
Over time, the plant expanded, and in the 21st century, production became automated. This process freed up part of the space, which has now been transformed into a venue for a contemporary cultural hub. The creative cluster "Our Place", which has become a meeting point for the local creative community, inspired artist Timur Safarov to create a mural dedicated to the theme of friendship.
- ForkArtistThe mural "Friendship" was designed with the architectural features of the building in mind. As I looked at the structure and thought about how to work with its protrusions, columns, and niches, the image of building a house out of children’s blocks and cubes came to me right away.
The mural tells a story of warm human connection. Timur depicted a clay-like house built from blocks and cubes, with "residents" placed between the floors, exchanging glances and interacting with one another. The composition reflects support, attentiveness, empathy, and care. The flexible forms and the links between the characters serve as a metaphor for human-centered fintech, while their diversity symbolizes community and collaboration. Each figure is unique, yet together they form something greater — a symbol of unity and shared growth.
Process
Art object form: mural
Style: plasticine realism
Material: spray paint
Style: plasticine realism
Material: spray paint
Fork began experimenting with a plasticine style in 2007. Instead of working with traditional flat sketches, he sculpted three-dimensional figures out of modeling clay to explore how their forms take on depth and volume. Over time, he realized that no other street artists were working in a similar style. That’s when he decided to bring plasticine realism to large-scale walls.
- Anna OlenevaExecutive ProducerThe plan was to create a mural on a brick wall within the creative cluster, so the surface had to be carefully prepared for the muralist’s work. First, the team marked the outline of the ‘house'. Then the wall was chased, reinforced with mesh, filled and smoothed with plaster, sanded, primed, and painted. It was a slow and labor-intensive process.
Plasticine realism also symbolizes flexibility and evolution — the transition from one state to another. The artist skillfully imitates fingerprints, creating the impression of warmth left by human hands. To create the mural, Fork used spray paint cans, and in particularly complex areas, he applied an airbrush for greater detail.
Interesting facts about the work:
- The mural took 13 days to complete
- Fork spent 8 hours a day on the lift
- The wall is 10 meters high
- 330 spray paint cans were used
- Over 60 colors and shades were involved in the mural
Fork began experimenting with a plasticine style in 2007. Instead of working with traditional flat sketches, he sculpted three-dimensional figures out of modeling clay to explore how their forms take on depth and volume. Over time, he realized that no other street artists were working in a similar style. That’s when he decided to bring plasticine realism to large-scale walls.
- Anna OlenevaExecutive ProducerThe plan was to create a mural on a brick wall within the creative cluster, so the surface had to be carefully prepared for the muralist’s work. First, the team marked the outline of the ‘house'. Then the wall was chased, reinforced with mesh, filled and smoothed with plaster, sanded, primed, and painted. It was a slow and labor-intensive process.
Plasticine realism also symbolizes flexibility and evolution — the transition from one state to another. The artist skillfully imitates fingerprints, creating the impression of warmth left by human hands. To create the mural, Fork used spray paint cans, and in particularly complex areas, he applied an airbrush for greater detail.
Interesting facts about the work:
- The mural took 13 days to complete
- Fork spent 8 hours a day on the lift
- The wall is 10 meters high
- 330 spray paint cans were used
- Over 60 colors and shades were involved in the mural
Author
- Fork (Saratov)ArtistTimur Safarov is a street artist from Moscow who works under the pseudonym Fork. In his work, Timur aims to convey a sense of joy and lightness in how we perceive life’s situations — using apparent simplicity and playfulness to reveal their deeper meaning. Maintaining a positive outlook and using humor to reflect on a complex present — this is the artist’s manifesto, running through all of his creative practice.
Timur Safarov is a street artist from Moscow who works under the pseudonym Fork. In his work, Timur aims to convey a sense of joy and lightness in how we perceive life’s situations — using apparent simplicity and playfulness to reveal their deeper meaning. Maintaining a positive outlook and using humor to reflect on a complex present — this is the artist’s manifesto, running through all of his creative practice.
"Look Up",
Yekaterinburg, 2022
Yekaterinburg, 2022
"Happy Home",
Osaka, 2024
Osaka, 2024
"Plasticine Flowers", Zheleznodorozhny, 2022
The mural was created by
Fork
Artist
Anna Oleneva
Executive Producer
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
Yulianna Kulugur
Photographer
Ivan Bely
Videographer