Vadim Apalikov | Interview
Pictured: Artist Vadim Apalikov (VadimArtAp)
“At this moment, my work is shaped by my desire to connect my traditional experience in metal sculpture with the possibilities of the digital future.
After many years of working with physical materials, I wanted to discover new ways for my sculptures to continue their existence and reach people beyond traditional exhibition spaces.
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Vadim Apalikov (VadimArtAp) is a metal sculptor and blacksmith whose practice brings nearly two decades of traditional hand forging into dialogue with 3D art and digital sculpture. A member of the Professional Union of Artists of Russia and the Guild of Blacksmiths of Russia, he has participated in international exhibitions, festivals and professional projects across Europe. His sculptures are held in museum and private collections, while his ongoing engagement with digital technologies extends their material and symbolic lives beyond the physical object.
At the centre of this interview is Love Will Save the World, a forged steel sculpture depicting the intertwined faces of a man and woman connected through a heart. For The Alchemical Art Space, Apalikov presents its digital continuation, translating a work shaped through fire and direct contact with metal into virtual space. He discusses love, transformation and human connection, alongside his belief that digital sculpture can expand traditional craftsmanship without replacing it.
How would you describe your artistic practice at this point in your artistic journey?
At this stage of my artistic journey, I see my practice as a connection between traditional metal sculpture and the future of digital art. For nearly two decades, I have worked with fire, steel and hand forging techniques, creating sculptures that combine craftsmanship, emotion and symbolism.
Today, I continue working with traditional sculpture while exploring 3D art, digital sculpture and NFT creation, bringing my physical artworks into new digital environments.
What feels most central to your work right now?
The most important idea in my work today is the dialogue between tradition and innovation. I believe that ancient craftsmanship can continue to evolve through modern technologies.
My goal is not to replace physical sculpture, but to expand its possibilities and give my artworks a new life beyond physical boundaries through digital space and the Metaverse.
Pictured (above): Sculpture ‘Love Will Save the World’
What themes, ideas, or questions are you currently exploring through your work?
My work explores themes of love, human connection, harmony, transformation and the relationship between people and the world around us.
I am interested in how a strong material like metal can express emotions, feelings and human stories. I also explore how traditional sculpture can find new forms of existence through digital technology.
Tell us about the works you are presenting with The Alchemical Art
The artwork I am presenting is titled “Love Will Save the World”. This forged metal sculpture represents the power of love, unity and the connection between two people.
The sculpture shows the faces of a man and a woman intertwined as one form. They are connected through a heart, which becomes the central symbol of love and emotional connection. The lower part of the sculpture represents the foundation of life, the place where something new begins to grow.
The work was created through traditional hand forging techniques, using fire and steel. Every part of the sculpture was shaped through a direct physical connection between myself and the material.
The title reflects my belief that love, compassion and human connection are among the strongest forces that can influence the future of humanity.
For The Alchemical Art exhibition, I present the digital version of this sculpture, giving the original physical artwork a new life in the digital space.
Pictured (above): Video of sculpture ‘Love Will Save the World’
How does your process usually begin, and how does a work develop?
My process usually begins with an idea, emotion or story that I want to express. I develop sketches and study the composition before beginning the physical creation.
When working with metal, the process becomes a dialogue between my vision and the material. Fire and forging transform the steel, and the final form develops through this interaction.
Today, I also create digital versions of my sculptures myself, using 3D modeling and digital sculpting to explore new possibilities for my artworks.
Image (above): Artist Vadim Apalikov creating
What has been shaping this body of work, or your practice more broadly, at this moment?
At this moment, my work is shaped by my desire to connect my traditional experience in metal sculpture with the possibilities of the digital future.
After many years of working with physical materials, I wanted to discover new ways for my sculptures to continue their existence and reach people beyond traditional exhibition spaces.
Are there particular materials, gestures, symbols, places, or visual languages that are especially important to you?
Metal, fire and the human form are central elements in my work. Steel represents strength and permanence, while fire represents transformation and creation.
I often use symbols such as the heart, human figures and connections between people to express universal ideas that can be understood across cultures.
What drew you to present your work with The Alchemical Art?
I was interested in The Alchemical Art because it creates a space where traditional art and new digital forms can exist together.
My work naturally exists between these two worlds: a physical sculpture created by hand and its digital continuation in virtual space. This exhibition allows me to share this connection with a wider audience.
What does visibility, exhibition, or being featured mean to you at this stage of your practice?
Visibility is important because it allows my ideas and artworks to reach new audiences. At this stage of my journey, I am building a bridge between my experience as a traditional metal sculptor and my development as a digital artist.
Each exhibition and presentation helps create a wider understanding of my artistic direction and the evolution of my work.
What are you currently curious about, experimenting with, or moving toward in your work?
I am currently exploring the possibilities of digital sculpture, virtual environments and NFT technology.
I am interested in creating artworks that can exist both physically and digitally, connecting traditional craftsmanship with the future of art and technology.
What advice would you give to other artists?
My advice to other artists is to continue developing their own unique voice and never stop learning.
Art is constantly evolving, and artists should respect their roots while being open to new ideas, technologies and possibilities.
What would you like viewers to carry with them after encountering your work?
I would like viewers to feel the emotion and message behind my work.
I believe that art has the power to connect people, preserve ideas and create a dialogue between the past, the present and the future.
Artist Biography
I am Vadim Apalikov (VadimArtAp), a metal sculptor, blacksmith, digital sculptor, 3D artist and NFT creator. My artistic journey is based on a lifelong connection with metal, fire and form, combined with my exploration of contemporary digital technologies and virtual environments. For nearly two decades, I have dedicated myself to the art of metal sculpture and traditional hand forging. Through fire, steel and craftsmanship, I create unique sculptural works that explore human emotions, symbolism and the deeper connection between material and meaning. I am a member of the Professional Union of Artists of Russia and the Guild of Blacksmiths of Russia. Throughout my career, I have participated in international exhibitions, blacksmith festivals and artistic projects across Europe. My sculptures have been exhibited in different countries and are held in museum and private collections across Europe. My artistic path has included international collaborations and professional experiences in Germany, Austria and Serbia. I have participated in international blacksmith championships and festivals, including representing my country at the International Blacksmith Championship in Italy in 2017. I am also a regular participant in blacksmith festivals in the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. For me, sculpture is not only about creating an object. It is about creating a message, an emotion and a story. Through forged metal, I explore themes of love, human connection, strength, harmony and the relationship between people and the world around us. After many years of developing my skills in traditional sculpture, I began searching for new ways to expand the life and possibilities of my artworks. This led me into the world of 3D art, digital sculpture and NFT creation. I independently studied 3D modeling, digital sculpting and modern creative technologies in order to transform my physical sculptures into digital artworks and give them a new life in virtual environments and the Metaverse. For me, digital sculpture is not a replacement for traditional craftsmanship. It is the next stage of my artistic evolution. It allows sculptures created through fire and metal to continue their existence in a new dimension, reaching audiences beyond physical boundaries and connecting traditional art with the future of digital creativity. My work exists between two worlds: the ancient tradition of craftsmanship and the limitless possibilities of digital technology. I believe that the future of art lies in the dialogue between heritage and innovation, where traditional skills can find new forms of expression.