Russian participants adjust their hair, preparing for the Kremlin Cadet Ball in Moscow, Russia, 08 December 2016. Pupils of cadet schools from different parts in Russia gathered for the first Kremlin Ball, restoring an old tradition of Russian officers and noble girls. (Photo by Sergei Chirikov/EPA)

People take a photograph at the Kremlin, against the backdrop of the Volga river, in the town of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, July 10, 2015. Russia will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

A woman aims a World War II machine gun at a military show during celebration of the Defenders of the Fatherland Day in St.Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, February 23, 2016. The day, celebrated in Russia on February 23, honors the nation's military and is a nationwide holiday. (Photo by Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo)

The 6th Siberian Tattoo Festival at Podzemka Loft Park in Novosibirsk, Russia on August 20, 2017. Tattoo lovers have been showing off their impressive inkings at annual conventions in LA and Russia this weekend. This year marks the sixth Siberian Tattoo Festival in Novosibirsk, Russia, while stateside tattoo fanatics have been celebrating all things body-art at the LA Tattoo Convention in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Kirill Kukhmar/TASS)

Russian Police academy female cadets march during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade at Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square in St Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. Victory Day, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany, is Russia's most important secular holiday celebrated on May 9. (Photo by Dmitry Lovetsky/AP Photo)

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.

Russia' s President Vladimir Putin (L) congratulates prizewinners at the 2018 Youth Judo Tournament dedicated to Soviet and Russian judo coach Anatoly Rakhlin, and held at St Petersburg' s Yubileyny Palace of Sports in St Petersburg, Russia on May 23, 2018. (Photo by Mikhail Metzel/TASS)

Demonstrators take part in a mass anti-Putin rally on December, 24, 2011 in Moscow, Russia. Tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in cities across Russia to protest alleged vote fraud in recent parliamentary elections and to express their discontent with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, leader of the dominant United Russia party. (Photo by Alexander Aleshkin/Epsilon/Getty Images)

Photo by: Rustem Adagamov; Source: LiveJournal