Painting No. 8 is dedicated to the legendary ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, whose name has become synonymous with the pinnacle of dance artistry. His image represents the essence of ballet in its broadest sense, merging classical and modern styles in a harmonious unity of body and spirit. As Maximilian Voloshin remarked in 1911, a dancer’s mastery lies in transforming their body into a musical instrument that resonates with internal harmonies, becoming one with the dance itself. Baryshnikov has achieved precisely this level – embodying music and movement with sensitivity, “resonant, like the wood of an old Stradivarius.”
Mikhail Baryshnikov is not merely a dancer; he is a “genius” in the truest sense of the word – a creator of living art who inspires audiences and draws some of the most remarkable figures in culture to him. His career ascent has been mirrored in the works of prominent individuals such as Joseph Brodsky, who wrote the poem “To Mikhail Baryshnikov” in 1976, describing classical ballet as a “castle of beauty.” Artists, musicians, photographers, and designers – from Annie Leibovitz to Julio Iglesias – have admired him, finding inspiration in his image.
