Begin your artwork tour with us and discover authentic pieces by Vladimir Kush thoughtfully spread across the 1st and 2nd floors of Kimpton Marlowe Hotel. Wander and explore as you step into a surreal world of metaphorical realism, where each floor reveals a stunning new vision of dreamlike landscapes and imaginative storytelling.
"Haven" is a striking example of the artist's signature style of metaphorical realism, seamlessly merging the terrestrial, maritime, and celestial worlds. The surrealist painting depicts a serene, dreamlike coastal vista where traditional boundaries between earth and sky dissolve, often featuring signature Kush motifs like soaring avian forms transitioning into billowing clouds or floating marine elements. Renowned for its meticulous realism and poetic symbolism, the piece evokes a sense of tranquil escapism and infinite wonder, making it a celebrated work within his extensive portfolio of ocean- and sky-inspired art.
"Still Life with Mandolin" is a captivating surrealist work that merges musical harmony with celestial imagery. True to his signature style of metaphorical realism, the painting plays on structural transformation by fusing organic forms with musical instruments—often translating the body of a pear or stringed acoustics into a whimsical mandolin floating within an imaginative, dreamlike landscape. The piece poetically reflects on the interconnectedness of art, nature, and cosmic order, establishing a serene visual rhythm that is characteristic of Kush's most celebrated explorations of sound and space.
"Atlas of Wander" is a vivid surrealist painting that captures the restless, adventurous spirit of an artist and traveler. Embodying his signature metaphorical realism, the piece weaves together imagery of migratory butterflies guided by a "solar compass" and an open-ocean sailboat, symbolizing an innate aspiration to cross uncharted waters and distant shores. The composition poetically maps out a journey of geographical and creative exploration—evoking the transition from autumn winds and familiar lands to sun-drenched, dreamlike islands. The work serves as a visual ode to the adventurous nature of the human soul and the boundless expanse of the world.
"Arrival of the Flower Ship" is a vibrant surrealist painting inspired by historic botanical maritime expeditions, such as the journey of the HMS Bounty to Tahiti. True to his style of metaphorical realism, the composition features a gleaming vessel utilizing radiant pink gladioli blossoms for sails, casting a warm glow across a sea strewn with fallen petals as figures welcome it ashore with palm branches. The dreamlike piece transforms a historical voyage of discovery into a triumphal, optimistic symbol of renewal, new beginnings, and paradise found. The work stands as a poetic celebration of human exploration and the wonders of the natural world.
"Breach" is a captivating surrealist oil painting that merges majestic marine life with ancient myth. Centered around the imagery of breaching whales—which Kush connects to the legendary Leviathan and concepts emerging from the subconscious mind—the composition celebrates Hawaii as a profound personal haven and artistic inspiration. True to his signature style of metaphorical realism, the surging whale and its powerful waterspout evoke a sense of primordial wonder, connecting ancient oceans to the dawn of life. The artwork stands as a powerful tribute to the untamed beauty and mystery of the sea.
"Candle" is a deeply symbolic surrealist work that explores themes of illumination, faith, and the human intellect. Staying true to his style of metaphorical realism, the painting uses the flickering flame of a candle as a universal emblem of hope and spiritual endurance piercing through the surrounding darkness. The imagery serves as a visual metaphor for the light of the human mind and the persistent search for truth within the subconscious. Widely recognized alongside its follow-up composition Candle II, the piece stands as a powerful philosophical reflection on enlightenment and the fragile, resilient nature of inspiration.
"Departure of the Winged Ship" is a quintessential surrealist oil painting that vividly showcases his signature concept of metaphorical realism. The composition brilliantly blurs the lines between nature and human invention by transforming a traditional ocean-faring vessel's sails into massive, delicate butterfly wings ready to take flight. Set against a vast expanse of blue sea and sky, the floating insects-turned-sails evoke a profound sense of weightless transition, fantasy, and migration. By harmonizing organic insect anatomy with maritime architecture, Kush creates a poetic visual metaphor for the imagination breaking free from physical boundaries and embarking on an infinite journey.
"Icarus" is a breathtaking surrealist interpretation of the classic Greek myth, reimagining the tragic flight through his signature style of metaphorical realism. In the composition, the ill-fated figure's wings are brilliantly transformed into the delicate, fiery-edged wings of a monarch or celestial butterfly, soaring too close to a radiant, incandescent sun that mirrors the melting wax of the legend. Rather than focusing solely on the tragedy of the fall, Kush elevates the moment into a poetic meditation on human ambition, the irresistible pull of light, and the ultimate pursuit of artistic and spiritual transcendence.
"Millennium Watchman" is a deeply philosophical surrealist work that explores the passage of time, creation, and the cosmic order through his signature style of metaphorical realism. Drawing on themes of eternity and divine craftsmanship, the composition depicts the Master of the Universe dressed simply as a watchmaker, climbing a ladder to oil the intricate gears of a massive celestial clock. The artwork poetically ties the ticking of the universe to the rhythm of the human heartbeat, capturing the exact moment the hands are moved to usher in a new epoch as golden rays break through the haze of time.
"Music of the Woods" is an enchanting surrealist painting that translates the auditory textures of a forest into a vibrant visual symphony. Embodying his signature style of metaphorical realism, the composition weaves together natural elements and vintage musical motifs—evoking the inspiration behind Johann Strauss's Tales from the Vienna Woods. The artwork imagines a hidden forest festival where unseen wood spirits, tree elves, and creatures gather around an antique gramophone, using smooth color transitions from carmine red to deep blue to capture the harmonious rhythm of nature. Given its immense popularity, the concept has also been adapted by Kush into an intricate 3D bronze sculpture, where floral stamens double as vibrating musical notes.
