2019-03-01_American_Art_Collector

(Martin Jones) #1

146 http://www.AmericanArtCollector.com


UPCOMING SHOW PREVIEW / LOTTON GALLERY
3/1-3/31 Chicago, IL

R


ussian artist Marina Marina aims to
convey her love of people and beauty
on her intricately painted canvases that
often feature women in various states
of repose. For her newest show at Lotton
Gallery in Chicago, Marina’s jumping-
off point was fashion. In particular, she
communicates the experiences the women
had while wearing different outfits.
“All girls love to dress up and dream of
balls and beautiful clothes,” says Marina.
“Each painting represents a moment in the
life of a ‘fashionista’—any woman who likes
to look good.”
The artist adds that the narratives on
each canvas are ones she created or remem-
bered from people’s lives, explaining, “I had
certain reasons why my models behave the
way they behave. However, any viewer is

free to come up with their own story.”
Marina usually formulates the idea for
each composition first, but the model gives
her the desire to paint. Her models are
informed in advance of what she’d like them
to do at each session, and when they arrive
Marina discusses what she wants to achieve.
“However, each model has her individual
gestures and style, and that changes and
influences the outcome,” Marina explains.
“The result is often something unexpected.”
Her painting Harmony is a story about
a woman’s day at home. Marina elaborates,
“You must agree, it’s so pleasant on a day
off, when you don’t have to hurry anywhere,
to roll on a nice cotton bedspread in a beau-
tiful peignoir, listen to music and dream
about whatever you want to dream about.”
Another painting, Graceful, depicts a

woman who has come home after a ball and
has taken off her diamonds and thrown off
her shoes, and is just thinking about the
evening she just had.
In Tranquility, Marina depicts a woman
who has just gone through her closet in
hopes of finding the perfect outfit, but
has surrendered to the idea that “there is
nothing to wear.” Marina says, “And the floor
and furniture are littered with the contents
of wardrobes and all this needs to be
assembled and put back. There is nothing
left but to lie down on a sofa draped with
clothes and fall asleep in exhaustion. You
need to calm down from the difficult work.”
The show will hang March 1 through 31.

Lotton Gallery 900 N. Michigan Avenue, Level 6 •
Chicago, IL 60611 • (312) 664-6203 • http://www.lottongallery.com

MARINA MARINA

Simple Moments

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