“In North Vancouver, nature cannot be ignored; it’s big and powerful and has infinite benefits,” says artist Leonid Rozenberg of his current home. A collection of works from Rozenberg’s Fairygrams series is on display at North Vancouver’s District Foyer Gallery until April 8 – showcasing the artist’s fascination with nature’s surreal side.

“The more westward I moved in Canada, the more present nature became for me,” says Rozenberg. “Standing on a beach in Tofino, I really appreciate the scale of nature compared to humans.”

Open to interpretation

Rozenberg was born in Ukraine; he then moved to Canada in 1979, continuing his art education at Sheridan College (Oakville, Ontario) where he earned a graphic design degree. His art career has spanned decades with exhibitions in the United States and Canada, including in Ontario – his former home of twenty years. In 2011, he became a member of North Van Arts now hosting his exhibit Fairygrams, a contraction of ‘fairytales,’ representing fantasises, and ‘telegram,’ representing short messages.

“Fairygrams are basically little daydreams,” the artist shares, adding that nature is ever-present in lived experiences. “But I don’t consciously, try to refer to, or highlight nature in these works.”

This series began in the early 1990s. Drawing inspiration from traditions of art, psychology and folklore, the artist uses various techniques including finger painting and stencil work to explore what he sees as the “surreal nature” of Fairygrams. Each piece is an invitation for viewers to draw their own conclusions, giving new meanings to his mixed media art.

“I always feel extremely grateful when anyone looks at my art,” he adds. “What my art makes them feel is none of my business; just like with dreams, interpretations will vary.”

And just like dreams, the production of Fairygrams is a never-ending process and source of inspiration. To preserve the “surrealist” quality of his work, the artist refrains from imposing a strict structure on his artwork’s production process.

“The process has no start and finish – and it’s been going on for 25 years,” he shares. “Even if I am not actively producing finished pieces, I am continuously gathering images.”

A dynamic process

Fairygrams are created from found images in newspapers, magazines, the artist’s own photography, and more recently, social media. The artist compares this part of the process to hip-hop or rap music’s use of sampling – looking for images that he sees as “universally archetypical.” From the multitude of elements and inspirations harvested over the years, only a selected few are chosen to join the artistic conversation of Fairygrams.

“Once I feel there are enough images to play with, I start arranging them into groups and reducing them into specific dialogues,” the artist explains, adding that attention is paid to how images complement one another and can be combined into a story.

The images are then electronically altered and printed – allowing the artist to add finishing touches through a variety of techniques, including with paint, graphite and stencil. Among the many colourful and whimsical pieces of Fairygrams, the two that feel most special to Rozenberg are “Knockout” and “Pinocchio’s Predicament.”

“The first one is because I managed to paint a conniving boxing rink and a roaring crowd using only my fingers,” the artist adds, while noting he believes his best fairygram is still yet to come. “And the second one is because it has very powerful imagery the meaning of which I don’t know to this day –
like a perfect little dream!”

As for deciding on the technique, media and material, the artist shares that these decisions are made by the work themselves – his role is understanding what the pieces want. Made possible thanks to the Art in the Community Programme for North Shore Arts, this exhibit allows Rozenberg’s talent to shine through the walls of the gallery.

“I would like the public to find out more about North Shore Arts,” he says, adding that the organization, dedicated to “young and old alike,” is a central part of North Vancouver’s community and always welcomes attention from curious minds.

To learn more about Rozenberg’s Fairygrams, see: https://northvanarts.ca/events-exhibitions/leonid-rozenberg-fairygrams