Artist's Statement

 

"In my art practice, I explore human interaction with the universe, trust in the world, and the phenomenon of chance. As a person,

I frequently ask myself: where is the line between chaos and control, luck and fate? When can I influence the result, and when can I just accept the situation and adapt to it? As an artist, I am looking for a balance between the idea I want to express and giving the floor to the medium I work with. Thus, I myself become a "medium," a part of the creative process.

 

I am obsessed with color; it is my passion and the engine of my imagination, both in painting and in collage. In my painting, I chose a landscape as a symbol of the world around us. First, an idea appears in my head; the color image and structure are the starting point. Then the journey into the unknown begins; I often act intuitively, without a clear preliminary plan. At this point, I interact, honor, and play with chance; I follow the media, each time deciding whether it works for my idea. Using the expressive movement of the entire arm and body, I create a complex object from layers of paint, color, and texture. The final image of the landscape is interesting for its abstractness, when everyone sees in it something of their own, belonging only to them. Instead of displaying reality, I give the viewers freedom of imagination, bringing to life associations, emotions, and memories. I send them on their own journey, providing an opportunity to expand their perception of reality.

 

In the collage, my images are entirely abstract. Magazine pages torn at random symbolize chance and accident. My task as an artist is to transform the chaos of scattered pieces into a single harmonious whole. It is a dialogue on equal terms, an interaction between the outside world and my inner self when I accept and adapt what the world gives. Abstract shapes, intricate textures, layering, unpainted parts of the canvas, or torn edges of collages give a sense of the complexity and diversity of the world which I am a part of".

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Biography

 

Yulia Lenina was born in 1978 in Saratov (Russian Federation). As a child, she attended an art school in her hometown. Subsequently, she earned a degree in programming from Saratov State Technical University. Still, art was always on her mind and in her soul. In 2003 she moved to Moscow. After working in IT and sales for 15 years, she returned to painting in 2015 and became a full-time artist in 2019.

 

Yulia primarily creates paintings and collages. She explores such themes as the interaction of a human being with the Universe, trust in humanity, and chance. The artist uses landscape as the main focus of her paintings and as a possible representation of the human psyche. Collage is another tool for Yulia to explore the relationship between the artist and the world. She applies even more abstract concepts to it.

 

The artist is currently studying at Kyiv Academy of Media Arts and spends her time between Moscow and Kyiv. She is represented by AG Gallery Moscow (Winzavod), Artflood Gallery (Moscow-London), and Artios Gallery (US). Her works are in private and public collections in Russia, the UK, Turkey, and Ukraine.