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.

Turkish artist Nezaket Ekici performs a live art performance entitled 'Emotion in Motion' on the first day of Art Basel 2015, Hong Kong, China, 13 March 2015. The Hong Kong show of Art Basel features 233 galleries from 37 countries and territories, presenting works ranging from the Modern period of the early 20th century to the most contemporary artists of today, according to the official press release. (Photo by Alex Hofford/EPA)

There's something inherently Ghibli-esque about Chong FeiGiap's beautiful paintings, capturing that sense of wonder typically present in the best animes the studio had to offer, as well as a dash of Tekkon Kinkreet's amazingly colorful, complex cities.

A museum employee views “Details of Renaissance Paintings (Sandro Botticelli, Birth of Venus, 1482)” by Andy Warhol at the Victoria and Albert museum in London, Britain, March 2, 2016. The piece forms part of “Botticelli Reimagined”, an exhibition exploring the ways artists have responded to the artistic legacy of the fifteenth century artist Sandro Botticelli, and including over fifty artworks by Botticelli himself. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)

A gallery staff member walks past Fleeting Monument (1985) by artist Cornelia Parker, one of the works on display at Yorkshire Sculpture Parks Longside Gallery as part of the “Making It: Sculpture in Britain 1977-1986” exhibition on March 27, 2015 in Barnsley, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Two sculputures at the waterfront in Marseille – Ever feel like youve forgotten something? No its not a mind trick – these are the amazing photos of sculptures done by a French artist. The sculptures are the work of Bruno Catalano and might look like theyre missing vital organs but the invisible bodies represent a world citizen according to their creator. (Photo by Caters News Agency)

Alfred Hitchcock (1899 – 1980) in front of a caricature of his profile at a press reception in London for his new film “Frenzy”. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images). 24th May 1972