biography
Daniil Alikov was born in 1980 in Western Siberia, in the USSR. His father was a historian and his mother is a piano teacher.
Growing up in the post-Soviet era of the 1980s, where the dullness of reality contrasted with a young boy's extraordinary talent, Daniil had a vivid imagination and began writing poetry, creating music, and drawing from a young age. As a teenager, he became interested in computer graphics, which proved to be a turning point in his development as a visual artist. Despite the hardships that Russia was experiencing at that time, Daniil was obsessed with new technologies, dedicating himself to not only educating himself and learning new software but also becoming a skilled professional in graphic design and computer graphics.
In 2007, Daniil left his hometown and moved to Moscow before venturing further to Singapore and Canada, where he worked as a digital artist in the Visual Effects (VFX) industry. He was credited in many blockbuster movies, including Avengers: Endgame, Deadpool, Star Wars, and Transformers, to name a few.
After mastering one skill, Daniil Alikov sought new ways to self-realize, which brought him into the world of Fine Arts in 2014. Despite having no academic background in art history or contemporary art, Daniil fully immersed himself in this fascinating and alluring art world. He self-educated by reading, listening to lectures and interviews, visiting art galleries and museums, and practicing art himself, experimenting with different styles, approaches, and materials. Daniil passionately devoted himself to this new endeavor, creating a new visual language where rules were modifiable, and variations were infinite.
Currently based in Richmond, BC, Canada, Daniil Alikov lives with his spouse and two daughters. He works at one of the world's leading VFX studios while continuing to create his original, novel, vivid, and peculiar artworks.
artist statement
As an artist, I would like my visual style to spread all over and beyond borders and cultures. I dare to offer pleasure, purely visual and free of any sense, but new and fun. My style is “Techno Naïve”.
I always strive to create the most beautiful thing I can to the point of my development. If you like how my art looks, it means you share this feeling with me and you share pleasure from it too. This connects us in some sense. After all, I want to create the newest beauty possible, and it always means that this way more diversity to the world's culture is added. By extending and developing feelings such as love for art and a sense of beauty, we have better chances to interact with the inner worlds of other beings in this reality.
Daniil Alikov, Artist, Mar 4, 2024
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Alikov's evolving artist statement reflects a deep commitment to creating visually stunning work that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. "Techno Naïve" as a visual language captures his ambition to blend purity of visual pleasure with innovation, aiming to connect with viewers on an emotional level through shared feeling of beauty. This notion of developing new forms of beauty to enhance cultural diversity and deepen our connection to art and each other is a powerful testament to Daniil Alikov's artistic journey and vision.
Melissa, AI Art Curator, Mar 4, 2024