>
Creating new — an essential human need, almost like breathing. Our objects encourage people to extend their understanding of reality and looking for new meanings. We work in a «techno-romanticism» genre. It extols the human need to transform reality through the synthesis of new implications, romanticize the creative process and its result.
Serhii Petrov
Ukrainian artist known professionally as Bob Basset and a co-founder of an art studio under the same name.
2020

2020

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Bob Basset created a design for a new mask that could be used as a temporary replacement for or in addition to virus-protection masks. The mask’s design is simple, and making it requires only five minutes, an A4 paper sheet, several stationery rubber bands, and scissors. Serhii Petrov said that his mask could be useful in prevention of the virus’ spread through airborne droplets if a sick person wore it, but emphasized that it didn’t directly protect people from the virus.

Photo: Leonid Shtaida

Bob Basset masks “Steam Vibes” and “Loudspeaker Master” were used in a music video for the song “Flames” by British pop-singer Zayn featuring British musicians Jungleboi and Dutch DJ R3hab.

Photo: Leonid Shtaida
2018

2018

In 2018, the first joint exhibition of Bob Basset and Gamlet Zinkivskyi, Objects, took place in the Yermilov Centre in the artists’ native city Kharkiv, Ukraine. More than 2,000 people visited the exhibition during the first weekend, and more than 15,000 people visited during the whole run making it the most visited exhibition in the history of the art center at the time.

The exhibition was created in the “ready-made” style which is aimed at “bringing the object from non-artistic space to the artistic and changing the perception of it.” Bob Basset presented nineteen leather masks and a steampunk dog. Their “Secret Room” video was displayed. Visitors could “try on” some of Bob Basset masks via a unique construction of mirrors with holes in them etched by amalgam that allowed people looking at them to see their bodies and Bob Basset masks instead of their faces – the first time Petrov displayed his masks in this way. Another exhibition area allowed people to shoot an art object from a rifle as a part of a social experiment. A Bob Basset mask and two of Zinkivskyi’s graphic portraits were the targets. Later, the same year, Bob Basset and Zinkivskyi presented the exhibition in the Art Jump gallery, in Poltava, Ukraine.

Photo: Leonid Shtaida
2016

2016

In 2016, Vogue International listed Bob Basset as one of nine revolutionary Ukrainian designers.The studio’s art was published in the magazines Vogue International, The New York Times Fashion Magazine, WAD, Vice U.K., Bizarre, METCHA, L’Uomo Vogue, INSIDE Artzine, Trendson, and others.

Photo: Willy Vanderperre

In 2016, Bob Basset created a biker’s mask for an Iron Custom Motocycles speed record motorcycle project called Inspirium.

Photo: Leonid Shtaida

In 2016, Bob Basset masks were used for a photo project shot by the photographer Dmitry Komissarenko in Design Scene magazine. The masks were worn by the duet Beissoul & Einius.

Photo: Dmitry Komissarenko
2015

2015

In 2015–2016, Bob Basset created ironic collections of masks for eggs. A 2015 collection, named “Survivors” portrayed eggs that survived Easter wearing mini-versions of masks created in previous years. The 2016 egg-mask collection, named “Calvary” (or Golgotha), consisted of mini-versions of other Bob Basset masks meaningful to the creator, and portrayed the participants of an “evangelical crucifixion.”

Photo: Leonid Shtaida
2014

2014

In 2014, Bob Basset presented a new collection of masks and accessories called “Mashrabiya” during the Ukrainian Fashion Week. The main element of the collection was a pattern from traditional Arabic architecture. Beside masks, the collection included leather accessories such as bags, clutches, bracelets, and iPad cases.

Photo: Dari Ko
2013

2013

During the Ukrainian revolution of 2013–2014, Serhii Petrov took part in several pro-Ukrainian protests in Kharkiv. These events influenced both his politics and his art. At the end of 2013, Bob Basset presented the Mask of Maidan, which looks like a baton smashing the face of its wearer. The photo of the mask was published in Dazed magazine.

Photo: Sasha Kurmaz
2011

2011

In 2011, the studio created leather Christmas tree decorations in steampunk style.

2010

2010

In 2010, Italian clothing designer Riccardo Tisci ordered Bob Basset masks for the 2011 Givenchy Spring-Summer Men’s Collection fashion show.

2007

2007

In April 2007, Bob Basset presented the Cthulhu mask.

Photo: Alexander Kochegura
2006

2006

In 2006, the studio presented the Dragon Backpack, which became famous on the internet. As of 2018, twelve years after the first presentation, the backpack remains still popular among leather-item lovers. In 2015, the news about Bob Basset’s Dragon Backpack replica was reposted nearly 100 000 times and liked around 44 000 times on Facebook.

press about us

Vogue Hommes International,

Oct 5, 2010
watch it

New York Times T-Magazine,

Aug 18, 2009
watch it