If millennials still managed to experience childhood without smartphones, for Generation Z, the phone has become an integral part of life from birth, so they have learned to consume and process information much faster than their predecessors. The physical space between people has shrunk, transforming the world into Marshall McLuhan's Global Village, where each person is within arm's reach regardless of their physical location. Communication between people has also changed: with a new ethic, attempts are made to build horizontal relationships, where old values and hierarchies no longer function. The generation gap is further exacerbated.

In his work, Maxim Frolov combines various media: painting, collage, digital art, video art. The author was most influenced by the picture generation movement and artists of the 90s, known for their critical analysis of media culture. 'New Era / New Tribe' is a series of works that includes painting, installation, and the sound art of the artist.

Woman is the central image and the main protagonist in Frolov's works. This choice is not related to sexualization but rather reflects the artist's internal state, associated with the rejection of patriarchal norms. Following Delacroix, Maxim sees the achievement of freedom, victory over ignorance, violence, and oppression precisely in the female image. If Delacroix's girl resembles an ancient goddess, then Frolov, inspired by Japan as a vision of the future, depicts heroines from anime and Japanese pop art.

Returning to Ilya Kabakov's question, 'Who will be taken into the future?' the artist answers that the future will primarily embrace those who are ready to change. The indispensable quality of a representative of the New Era today is the ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.

2022