Vladimir Sorokin is one of the key contemporary intellectuals, known for his deep and precise understanding of life, whose books have been translated into dozens of languages. His literary work is famous for its stylistic diversity, the deconstruction of linguistic and social codes, attention to power mechanisms, and social transformations. Sorokin is slightly less known as an artist who engages with visual art. The exhibition "Dostoevsky-Trip" represents this facet of his talent.

For Vladimir Sorokin, graphics are important and meaningful. As an artist, he has designed about fifty publications and has expanded this practice well beyond book design. In the past ten years alone, three of his series, inspired by Russian literary tradition, have been presented in Berlin, Tallinn, and Cannes. Such a consistent and thoughtful engagement with graphics shows that for Sorokin, it is not just a field of formal experimentation but a unique tool for artistic exploration—a way to capture and reflect on what does not always find adequate expression in other forms. The exhibition in Belgrade marks the next step in this journey.

The phenomenon of a writer professionally engaging in visual art is not rare. One can recall the drawings of Victor Hugo, engravings by William Blake, watercolors by Hermann Hesse, or the graphics and sculptures of Günter Grass. The connection between literary and artistic practices manifests itself differently for such authors: for some, visual art is a parallel form of self-expression, for others, a direct continuation of literary themes. Vladimir Sorokin's case is unique in that understanding his intent completely may be impossible, and perhaps it is unnecessary. It is best to simply trust the author and immerse oneself in the visible, following him wherever it leads.

Ilya Shipilovskih