Additional artwork released for the release of the 2010 “Remix” of the iconic 1988 film, “Igla”.
Artwork depicting a backstory integral to the film’s alternate plotline (considerably different from the original 1988 plot) was created by the staff of the Russian indie digital art design Doping Pong (recently embroiled in a controversy of employing imagery that evoked Nazi themes due to featuring Aryan-looking figures for the 2014 Winter Olympics- however, these rumors have been dispelled by the art group itself).
This specific artwork series was not featured in the film itself, but were released for the film’s promotion.
The artwork decidedly evokes heavy Street Art/Graffiti (the stencil structure of line and texture, the “paint-splatter” and ink scribble techniques all stem from Street Art) styles blended with subtle homages to old-school and Golden Age Seinen manga and anime, such as Akira.
Likewise, the artistic vein, with its strong stylization, also pays tribute to the cool, dark, cynical yet heroic (in the urban, anti-romantic sense) image both the character Moro, and the cultural figure, rock icon Viktor Tsoi, embodied for the Soviet/Post-Soviet youth of the late 80′s and early 90′s.
(As a number of Russian cultural observers noted, the character and the persona of Tsoi to Russian youth was reminiscent of Bruce Lee in the 70′s- esp given Tsoi’s own admiration and attempt to emulate the martial artist and cinema star. Doping Pong’s imagery of dragons and nunchucks certainly infer this influence directly.)
Personally, the art style exudes the wonderfully gritty tone not unlike tasteful Indie hip-hop albums. Almost evocative of Samurai Champloo…