When it comes to the use of materials and techniques, I enjoy not limiting myself. However, I do tend to use fiber art techniques in paintings or integrated into objects. The material often researched for my work is that of “natural destruction”. Changes in material are caused by nature, time, and even biological organisms. I like to combine forms and materials that contrast and contradict each other, uniting them in one piece. This, to me, serves as a metaphor for the contrast between culture and context.
The main idea of my projects is rooted in the problem of cultural identity and the continuity of traditions and customs. I’m curious about how primary social conditions such as place of birth and nationality determine our future. Can one adopt a foreign environment and culture as their own and where do the boundaries lie for what is one's own? Do the boundaries exist at all?
I was born and raised in Kyrgyzstan amongst people, a culture and nationality that I didn’t belong to. I moved to China at the age of 23 where, for 12 long years, I continued to live amongst
a culture that wasn’t my own. Now, again, I’m an immigrant, though this time in my historical homeland, Russia.
This is why I often use fiber art techniques. Felt is a cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan, it played a huge role in supporting the Kyrgyz people since the nomad times. Through this concept of
moving and expanding borders, I find a sense of continuity for myself. Being immersed in different cultures provided me with a system of contrasting material and an abundance of
techniques I use in my work.
