Annita Maslov - Ferine

About

In Ferine , Annita Maslov unveils new oil paintings that reinterpret dark global folklore and mythology. Opening reception: Saturday, October 25th, 5 pm – 8 pm. This is a free event. This exhibition will run from Oct 26th - Nov 16th, 2025, and will coincide with Brian M. Viveros's TRUE GRIT , and the Beyond the Skin: Tattoo Artists Invitational . The title, Ferine, meaning 'wild, savage, or untamed', captures both subject and spirit. These dreamlike tableaux retell stories where allure and seduction collide with danger and the grotesque, forming cautionary tales of unchecked hedonism and desire. Maslov is drawn to such age-old stories for what they reveal about the human psyche and our ongoing struggle between primal urges and ideals of discipline, morality, and self-preservation. Influenced by classical Baroque painting and the drama of the chiaroscuro technique, Maslov borrows from the masters, creating strong contrasts through bold lighting to heighten the emotionality of her scenes. The resulting works are at once theatrical and intimate; the low lighting both beckons the viewer closer and suggests danger, creating a tension between allure and unease. Evoking the tradition of memento mori, serpents, skulls, and creatures lurk within the collection, coiled around nude bodies and divine muses as symbols of mortality and danger entwined with beauty and life. Annita Maslov is a Melbourne-based artist known for her haunting illustrations and intricate tattoo work. Inspired by the likes of Vali Myers and Frida Kahlo, her characters carry a spectral femininity that blends mysticism with melancholy. After starting her career as a freelance illustrator, she transitioned into tattooing, co-founding The Scarlet Temple, a private studio in Melbourne where she continues to bring her ethereal visions to life on both skin and canvas.