Art of Her

Artist Maria Li presented her first solo exhibition of unconscious drawing in Almaty, reports Art of Her.

Maria works in the technique of surrealistic automatism. This trend is based on the creation of an artwork in a state where consciousness is not constrained by the will of the individual and is not subject to the general laws of rationality.

"A clear example of unconscious drawing for everyone is when you're talking on the phone and you're scribbling something. If you scribble long enough, you get these kinds of works. I don't initially come up with a sketch or a plan, I do it in the moment," said the artist.

The exhibition features more than 20 works by Maria Li, some of them on eco-leather canvases. Interestingly, the paintings have no titles, only numbers. In this way, the artist emphasized the technique of surrealistic automatism, so that the viewer can interpret the picture himself.

The exhibition itself and all of Maria's works are devoted to the theme of love.

"Absolutely all the works are declarations of love to my husband. Without him I don't paint, it doesn't work. He leaves - everything stands", - Maria Lee shared.

At the opening of the exhibition Maria Li held a session of unconscious drawing on a white designer sofa, which is presented as a lot at a charity auction. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Dara Foundation to support the "We Open the World" project for blind and visually impaired children.

In addition, the audience was presented a plastic performance "Appear", the result of the joint work of Anna Tsoi, choreographer of the Korean Theater, and Alexander Klishin, actor of the Korean Theater. The name of the performance consists of two parts Apple (apple) and Pear (pear). In the dance, the artists told a story of overcoming, acceptance and the endless all-conquering power of love, as in the works of Maria Lee.

 "I hope the audience comes out filled with love. Especially now, in such difficult times, I try to give everyone light. I never paint out of negative emotions, I carry only good and pleasant feelings. So, I hope that everyone will take this little "sarkyt" with them and take it home", - said the artist.

Personal exhibition of unconscious drawing of Maria Li will last till November 23, 2022.

Address: 15A Bekhozhina St., Almaty (Coffee Art).

Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 09:00 to 17:00.

Admission is free.

Maria Lee was born in 1991 in Kunayev (Kapchagai). She graduated from a children's art school, a bachelor's program "Architectural design" of the Kazakh State Academy of Architecture and Construction. In 2015-2016 she was a resident at Ben Navaee Gallery in Toronto. In 2019, Maria received her Master of Architecture in Industrial Design from University College London and participated in the report exhibition "The Fifteen". The artist is currently lecturing in design at Suleyman Demirel University.