“I think we need the feminine qualities of leadership, which include attention to aesthetics and the environment, nurturing, affection, intuition and the qualities that make people feel safe and cared for. “ - Deepak Chopra

Erarta Galleries Zurich presents It’s a Woman’s World, a group show converged upon the motif of women. By hosting an eclectic selection of female imagery, distinct in styles and techniques, we are showcasing “the woman” as celebrated by Russian artists: Simon Balabaytsev, Nadezhda Kasatkina, Valery Lukka, Dmity Margolin, Artem Starodubstev and Sergey Yashin.

Women have always been one of the main subjects and passions in art. For a long time artists were male and models mainly female. When flipping through one of the many weighty art history books around you could even be left with the impression that the world is actually dominated by women. Each one of the compelling paintings chosen in this exhibition reveal the female in different situations and interpretations demonstrating that the feminine is still fascinating artists today.

In the work Sphere. Orbit. Void. artist Simon Balabaytsev is transfixed by the gaze of the woman as he magnifies her amidst an intimate thought transpiring behind her gaze. Balabaytsev’s work captures both the portrait of the woman and the interceding voyeurism of the viewer, which demonstrates the prevailing fascination with the female.

In Sergey Yashin’s work, overlapping colors form solid borders and shapes share characteristics with that of the Japanese scroll painters from the Edo period. Yashin’s portraits are centrally anchored in the canvas and woven into a dark background, which stylistically reflects Japanese influence in their tri-color fashion and blocky positions. His women, whether in a series of dancers, samurai or portraits are dedications to renowned or anonymous women.

Another rendition on the subject of women shows Valery Lukka’s painting, Beauty. As characteristic for Lukka the portrait shown in this exhibition reflects the artist’s wry sense of humor about everyday people and a note of sarcasm. The artist depicted a pavonine blonde with bright make-up dressed in a short skirt certain of her beauty ironically by making her vanity visible as ugliness just like in the vanitas themes of the past.

Its a Womans World approaches the everlasting obsession with the opposite sex through the eyes of contemporary Russian artists. Each one of the paintings chosen in this exhibition reveals the female in different situations and compels interpretations demonstrating that the female subject is still fascinating artists today.

Erarta Galleries
Gerbergasse 6
Zürich CH 8001 Switzerland
Ph. +41 (0)43 3446040
zurich@erartagalleries.com
www.erartagalleries.com

Opening hours
Tuesday - Friday from 10am to 6pm
Saturday from 11am to 5pm

Related images

  1. Simon Balabaytsev, Swallow Mail 2, 2011 mixed media on wood, 76 x 76 cm
  2. Dmitry Margolin, Portait of Eva, 2010, oil on canvas, 116 x 85 cm
  3. Artem Starodutsev, To Moscow, To Moskow!, 2013, oil on canvas, 122 x 89 cm
  4. Sergey Yashin, Girl with a bird, 2011, oil on canvas, 100 x 70 cm
  5. Simon Balabaytsev, Sphere. Orbit. Void., mixed media on wood, 75 x 50 cm
  6. Valery Lukka, Beauty, mixed media on canvas, 100 x 80 cm