To produce the images that convey his fatalistic and ironic approach to life, tinged with hope, he needed the environment and knowledge of Mother Russia, oiled with a bit of bribery to certain circus trainers. Enter the Great Russian Bear, the personification of Russia for the last several centuries, onto center stage and into his studio. The bear is recognized as both brutish and cute – Misha was the mascot for the 1980 Olympic Games – and has remained a symbol of Russia since Tsarist times. In 2009 it is the symbol of the United Russia Party.

“Residents in a small town littered with giant potholes may be ready to “crack” the art world – after turning their massively damaged roads into hilarious masterpieces. Fun-natured drivers from Scranton, Pennsylvania have been challenged by an arts group to turn the ugly craters in their neighborhood into pothole art”. – Caters News. Photo: Cereal bowl pothole. (Photo by Caters News)

“It’s Fashion Week in Sao Paulo, Brazil and you don’t have to be a celebrity or a designer to check out these couture pieces. Subway stations were used as improvised catwalks in order to give the general public a chance to see these creations up close and at the price of a subway fare”. – Reuters. Photo: A model presents a creation in a subway station during the Sao Paulo Fashion Week in Sao Paulo October 27, 2013. (Photo by Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)

A model presents makeup creations during dress reharsal by Maybelline New York at the Berlin Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015 in Berlin January 19, 2015. (Photo by Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

Models present creations for Etam during the 2017 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show, on September 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Swan Gallet/WWD/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Models dance during the presentation of Stella McCartney's Spring-Summer 2017 ready-to-wear fashion collection presented Monday, October 3, 2016 in Paris. (Photo by Francois Mori/AP Photo)

A model wears a creation for Miu Miu's Spring-Summer 2017 ready-to-wear fashion collection presented Wednesday, October 5, 2016 in Paris. (Photo by Francois Mori/AP Photo)