— too bold, too big, to far: Unrealized artworks become visible. Artists from all over connect.
While mobility is restricted, borders and distances are clearly perceptible and existential uncertainties
are omnipresent, more artistic works than ever remain in the state of planning. Whether it fails due to
lack of time, space or money or accompanies your artistic work for years as bold dream — we are looking
for your projects, which have not (yet) made it beyond their state as an idea, concept, draft or prototype.
With this exhibition we want to open up a space and visibility in terms of concepts, sketches, drafts, plans
and photographs. These papers will be presented at the art space BLECH. in Halle, Germany.
At the same time, despite current challenges and immobility, this format allows to present
and bring international artists together. Since many things cannot take place on location and in person,
there will be an online programm additional to the exhibtion. For an exchange and encounters, the
participating artists and their work will be presented and discussed on a digital platform.
— too bold, too big, to far: Unrealized artworks become visible. Artists from all over connect.
While mobility is restricted, borders and distances are clearly perceptible and existential uncertainties
are omnipresent, more artistic works than ever remain in the state of planning. Whether it fails due to
lack of time, space or money or accompanies your artistic work for years as bold dream — we are looking
for your projects, which have not (yet) made it beyond their state as an idea, concept, draft or prototype.
With this exhibition we want to open up a space and visibility in terms of concepts, sketches, drafts, plans
and photographs. These papers will be presented at the art space BLECH. in Halle, Germany.
At the same time, despite current challenges and immobility, this format allows to present
and bring international artists together. Since many things cannot take place on location and in person,
there will be an online programm additional to the exhibtion. For an exchange and encounters, the
participating artists and their work will be presented and discussed on a digital platform.
Marina abramova
ABOUT
Born 1988, Kolomna (Russia). Studied materials science at the universities of Moscow and Freiberg, graduating as a Dipl. -Ing. (Germany) and Specialist Engineer (Russia). Since 2015 - self-employed artist. Participation in various workshops and study trips with internationally renowned watercolourists, such as Josef Zbukvic (Australia). Member of the Deutsche Aquarell Gesellschaft, the Coburger Kunstverein and the artist group 555°art Berlin. Since 2017 lecturer at the Coburg Summer Academy. Lives and works in Berlin. Regular solo exhibitions in Germany and Russia, as well as group exhibitions worldwide. Nomination for the DA! Art Award 2020. Winner of the Hahnemühle 2020 calendars competition. First places in the watercolour marathon of Lev Kaplan (2019) and Sergey Kurbatov (2017). Art award "Blue Orange" 2016 (Kunstverein Coburg, VR Bank Coburg) and nomination for the art award 2016: "Babylon, Wunder, Wahn und Wirklichkeit" (Bernd and Gisela Rosenheim Foundation). Cooperation with the manufacturers of watercolour materials Schmincke and Hahnemühle, publications and articles on their websites. Works are in private and public collections around the world.
STATEMENT
The beauty of everyday life - that is what I would call the subject that inspires me. The beauty seen through the eyes of a modern city dweller. The romanticism of grey buildings, the power and elegance of technology, or the lantern light against the background of a starless night. We, the children of the city, so often praise nature, dream of exotic countries, but at the same time we try to ignore what surrounds us now. I would like the viewer to look at my works without judgement, but with enthusiasm and curiosity for everyday life and perhaps discover it anew for himself. It is logical that I take my stories from scenes and moments that each of us sees and lives several times a day - on a walk, on the train, on the way to the shop. I avoid extremes - there are no recognisable "kitschy" sights and there is no "trash". I tell my stories in watercolour because watercolour is my ally. Watercolour allows me to work the way I like - to think and draw a picture for a long time and then to put the thoughts simply and spontaneously on paper. And - watercolour is a very honest material that tells directly, that cannot be hidden and redesigned.
It does not tolerate mistakes.
We asked ...
How do you record your ideas for new works and projects?
On my pictures I actually only bring scenes that I have seen with my own eyes. They can be strongly processed, e.g. reduced to the essential, but there are still some connections with reality. Therefore the easiest way to keep the idea is to take a photo or a quick sketch. And with this I have a "Possible-Works-List" - where I can describe the main idea of the new work with a few words. Usually about half of it is actually realized.
How has the situation of the last months changed your artistic work?
I've been working on the series "Weg nach Hause" for some time now and actually the series before Corona was almost finished. But due to the fact that I haven't been able to visit my family and friends for almost a year (my parents, my brother and my best friends live in Russia), my longing for home, for security, has become much stronger and unfortunately I still can't satisfy it. I can only describe this in my work. Now it is not only about the journey, but about nostalgia, childhood memories and the search for warmth.
Unless otherwise indicated, all rights for all texts and photos are reserved by the artist/author/photographer.