CYCLES OF BEING – ART BY YURI ELPERIN
Opening November 15th 2025 5-9pm
https://yuriopening.eventbrite.ca
Exhibition: Nov 15 – Dec 4, 2025
Mon – Fri 10 – 5 or by appointment
Lipont Gallery is delighted to present “CYCLES OF BEING,” a new exhibition featuring sculpture and mixed media artworks by established Vancouver-based artist, Yuri Elperin. The exhibition opens on November 15th, 2025, with a public reception from 5 PM to 9 PM.
The artistic output of Yuri Elperin is a profound and expansive inquiry into history, culture, and spiritual beliefs. Spanning several decades, his work is not merely a reflection of his personal journey but represents an artist’s continuous questioning of humanity’s collective memory and universal spiritual values.
Born in Riga, Latvia, one year after WWII, Elperin’s early years were shaped by the beautiful architecture and design of a city that had largely escaped the war’s destruction. This environment instilled in him a strong, early appreciation for art and antiquity. His true artistic awakening and stylistic conviction, however, are closely tied to a tumultuous social and political climate. While studying at the Riga Art Academy, he discovered a passion for the blend of intellectual rigor and emotional engagement found in abstract art, with a particular focus on sculpture, photography, and cinematography. However, his pursuit of Abstract Expressionism (especially the Neo-Dada movement) was deemed unacceptable at that time, leading to persecution and his forced withdrawal from the academy.
This profound desire for creative freedom ultimately led to his emigration to the West in 1977. During his time in Rome, and his subsequent travels and research across Spain, France, and Italy, he immersed himself in Western modern art, drawing significant influence from masters such as Gerhard Richter, Antoni Tapies, Pierre Soulages, and Alberto Burri. These experiences not only enriched his visual language but solidified his artistic convictions. For decades, alongside his commercial photography and film career in Vancouver, Canada, he persistently pursued his art projects, developing a unique process for photographic collages and mixed media.
Since dedicating himself full-time to art in 1998, Elperin’s work has entered a powerful new phase—his three-dimensional Neo-Expressionism. Recent pieces, described as “sculpture/painting,” such as Phase One, Reincarnation Begins, and Metamorphosis, intentionally blur the lines between traditional media. They construct unique visual spaces through dynamic three-dimensional structures and complex material collages.
Elperin’s themes are grand and far-reaching; he commits himself to exploring the histories, mythologies, knowledge, legends, and canons of different cultures. This is clearly demonstrated in his cross-cultural narratives, from works inspired by Chinese history, such as Wu Zetian Dream and Transmigration Dragon/Emperor, to pieces delving into Eastern philosophies, like Beginning of Endless Knot, Buddha Eye, and Something is Nothing and Nothing is Something.
The most crucial core theme for Elperin lies in emphasizing the vital importance of spiritual beliefs within the memory of nations, civilization, and the universe. Whether contemplating life, death, and impermanence in Memento Mori and Impermanence, or exploring cosmic origins in Elements of Infinity and Material World, Elperin’s art calls for a transcendent reflection. In recent years, his focus has extended to the philosophy of the natural world, deconstructing and reassembling the “Five Elements” (Metal, Wood, Earth, Water, Fire) into mixed media works that offer a contemplative view of the universe’s fundamental composition.
Yuri Elperin’s art is a crucible where the personal history of displacement, struggle, and cross-cultural observation is fused into a singular vision. His works are not just tributes to history; they are profound meditations on humanity’s enduring spiritual realm. Viewers standing before these powerful and complex “sculpture/paintings” are invited to participate in a timeless dialogue concerning existence, faith, and memory.
Exhibition Dates: November 14 – December 4, 2025
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 5 PM, or by appointment. Visit here to book.
Address: Lipont Place, Room 218 (no elevator), 4211 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC, V6X 2C3
Admission: Free
Parking: Free on the south side of the building only.
Transit: Aberdeen Station
Contact: www.lipontgallery.ca, 604-285-9975
【存在之循环】悠睿·埃尔佩林艺术展
开幕：2025年11月15日星期六晚 5:00 – 9:00
https://yuriopening.eventbrite.ca
展览：2025年11月14日 – 12月4日
週一至週五10am-5pm开放，或预约参观。
温哥华力邦美术馆荣幸推出全新展览【存在之循环】，展出温哥华知名艺术家悠睿·埃尔佩林 (Yuri Elperin) 的雕塑及多媒介作品。展览将于2025年11月15日星期六晚5:00 – 9:00时开幕。
悠睿·埃尔佩林的艺术创作是对历史、文化和精神信仰的深刻而广泛的探索。他的作品跨越数十年，不仅反映了他的个人旅程，更代表了艺术家对人类集体记忆和普世精神价值的持续探究。
埃尔佩林出生于二战结束后一年的拉脱维亚里加市，这座城市的优美建筑和设计深深地影响着他的童年。里加市在很大程度上躲过了战争的摧残，这样的环境在他早期培养了他对艺术和古迹的强烈欣赏。然而，他真正的艺术觉醒和风格信念与动荡的社会环境息息相关。在里加艺术学院学习期间，他发现自己对抽象艺术中融合了严谨的智识与丰富的情感投入的艺术风格充满热情，尤其专注于雕塑、摄影和电影摄影。然而，他对抽象表现主义，尤其是新达达主义的追求在当时被认为是不可接受的，这导致他被迫退学。
对创作自由的强烈渴望最终促使他于1977年移居西方。在罗马期间，以及随后在西班牙、法国和意大利的旅行和研究使他沉浸在西方现代艺术中，并深受格哈德·里希特 (Gerhard Richter)、安东尼·塔皮埃斯(Antoni Tapies)、皮埃尔·苏拉吉(Pierre Soulages)和阿尔贝托·布里(Alberto Burri)等大师的影响。这些经历不仅丰富了他的视觉语言，也坚定了他的艺术信念。埃尔佩林于1978年移居加拿大。几十年来，除了在温哥华从事商业摄影和电影事业外，他还坚持不懈地追求自己的艺术项目，并发展出独特的摄影拼贴和混合媒介创作方式。
自1998年全身心投入艺术创作以来，埃尔佩林的创作进入了一个强有力的新阶段——他的三维新表现主义。他近期创作的一系列被称为“雕塑/绘画”的作品，例如《第一阶段》、《轮回开始》和《蜕变》，有意模糊了传统媒介之间的界限。它们通过动态的三维结构和复杂的材料拼贴，构建出独特的视觉空间。
埃尔佩林的创作主题宏大而深远；他致力于探索不同文化的历史、神话、知识、传说和经典。这在他的跨文化叙事中得到了清晰的体现，从受中国历史启发的作品，例如《武则天之梦》和《龙的转生》，到深入探讨东方哲学的作品，例如《无尽结之始》、《佛之眼》和《有即无，无即有》。
埃尔佩林最重要的核心主题在于强调精神信仰在民族、文明和宇宙记忆中的至关重要。无论是在《死亡警示》和《无常》中对生命、死亡和无常的思考，还是在《无限元素》和《物质世界》中探索宇宙起源，埃尔佩林的艺术都呼吁一种超越性的反思。近年来，他的创作重点延伸至自然界的哲学，将“五行” (金、木、土、水、火) 解构并重组，创作出混合媒介作品，以沉思的视角审视宇宙的基本构成。
悠睿·埃尔佩林的艺术如同熔炉，将个人的奋斗历程和跨文化观察融合成一个独特的视角。他的作品不仅是对历史的致敬，更是对人类永恒精神境界的深刻思考。观众站在这些强大而复杂的“雕塑/绘画”前，被邀请参与一场关于存在、信仰和记忆的永恒对话。
展览日期：2025年11月15日至12月4日
时间：周一至周五，早10时至晚5时，或点此预约。
地址：Lipont Place 218室 (无电梯)，4211 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC, V6X 2C3
门票：免费
停车：仅限楼南免费停车。
交通：Aberdeen天车站
联系方式：www.lipontgallery.ca 604-285-9975
Yuri Elperin – Artist Biography
Yuri Elperin was born in Riga, Latvia, one year after WW2. During the war, Riga’s buildings and structures suffered little damage, unlike most European cities. As a young boy, Elperin was lucky to live in an area surrounded by beautiful architecture, art, and design. Affected by his environment, he went on to develop a strong taste and love for art and antiquity.
From 1961-1965, Elperin’s parents sent him to “Pioneer Palace”, an academy in Riga for young artists. His full-time studies were interrupted upon conscription into the Russian army (1965-1968).
After completing his mandatory military service, he continued his education in design, architecture, and industrial technology at Kaliningrad College. In 1974, Elperin enrolled at the Riga Art Academy. There, he discovered his passion for combining intellectualist methodology and emotional and physical engagement in abstract art. Sculpture, photography, and cinematography were of particular interest.
However, the prevailing communist culture did not recognize abstract expressionism (especially the Neo-Dada movement) as art. During this period, artists in Soviet Latvia did not have true freedom and were often persecuted. Following a miscommunication with the administration, Elperin was asked to withdraw from the Riga Art Academy.
Elperin’s many attempts to leave the Iron Curtain for the West were met with success. In 1977, he left Latvia. While awaiting Canadian immigrant status, he lived in Rome. He continued developing his acumen through researching galleries and museums in Spain, France, and Italy. There, Elperin was introduced to artists such as Gerhard Richter, Antoni Tapies, Pierre Soulages, and Alberto Burri, who have been significant influences on his work.
Elperin moved to Canada in 1978. He set up a commercial photography and film studio, working full-time with advertising agencies, in Vancouver, B.C. At the same time, he continued working on his art projects. In the 1980’s, he developed a very unique process for photo collages. His rich-in-colour abstract mixed media art is well known, especially his “Jazz Project”.
Elperin left his business in 1998 in order to fully dedicate himself to art. Now, he resides in Vancouver, where his main studio is located, while sharing a part-time studio in Brooklyn, New York.
Over the past two decades, Yuri Elperin has concentrated on developing his three-dimensional Neo Expressionism projects. His art explores the histories, mythologies, knowledge, legends, and canons of different cultures. Through his work, Elperin brings up the importance of spiritual beliefs in the memory of nations, civilization, and universe.
悠睿·埃尔佩林 – 艺术家简介
尤里·埃尔佩林（Yuri Elperin）在二战结束一年后出生于拉脱维亚里加。与大多数欧洲城市不同，里加的建筑物在战争期间几乎没有遭到破坏。埃尔佩林童年时很幸运地生活在一个被美丽的建筑、艺术和设计所包围的地区。受环境的影响，他逐渐培养了对艺术和古董的浓厚兴趣和热爱。
1961年至1965年，埃尔佩林的父母将他送往里加一所面向年轻艺术家的学院“先锋宫”（Pioneer Palace）。1965年至1968年，他因应征入伍俄罗斯军队而中断了全日制学业。
服完兵役后，他继续在加里宁格勒学院学习设计、建筑和工业技术。1974年，埃尔佩林进入里加艺术学院学习。在那里，他发现了自己对将理性主义方法论与情感和身体投入相结合的抽象艺术的热情。他对雕塑、摄影和电影摄影尤为感兴趣。
然而，当时盛行的共产主义文化并不承认抽象表现主义（尤其是新达达主义运动）是艺术。在此期间，苏联时期的拉脱维亚艺术家没有真正的自由，经常遭受迫害。由于沟通不畅，埃尔佩林被勒令退出里加艺术学院。
埃尔佩林多次尝试离开铁幕，前往西方，并最终取得成功。1977年，他离开了拉脱维亚。在等待加拿大移民身份期间，他居住在罗马。他通过研究西班牙、法国和意大利的画廊和博物馆，继续提升自己的艺术造诣。在那里，埃尔佩林结识了格哈德·里希特、安东尼·塔皮埃斯、皮埃尔·苏拉热和阿尔贝托·布里等艺术家，他们对他的作品产生了重大影响。
埃尔佩林于1978年移居加拿大。他在卑诗省温哥华市开设了一家商业摄影和电影工作室，全职与广告公司合作。与此同时，他继续从事自己的艺术项目。 20世纪80年代，他发展出一种非常独特的照片拼贴技法。他色彩丰富的抽象混合媒介艺术广为人知，尤其是他的“爵士乐系列”。
埃尔佩林于1998年辞去工作，全身心投入艺术创作。如今，他居住在温哥华，主要工作室也设在温哥华，同时在纽约布鲁克林有一间共享工作室。
在过去的二十年里，尤里·埃尔佩林专注于发展他的三维新表现主义作品。他的艺术探索了不同文化的历史、神话、知识、传说和经典。埃尔佩林通过他的作品，提出了精神信仰在民族、文明和宇宙记忆中的重要性。
