"Look at the East" - Japanese aesthetics in lithographs by Ekaterina Smirnova Automatic translate

MOSCOW. On the 27th of June in the exhibition hall of the Belyaevo art gallery the opening of the exhibition of color lithographic works by Ekaterina Smirnova took place. The artist’s hometown is Moscow, but most of her childhood was spent in Japan, a country whose ancient culture became close to Catherine for life, and childhood memories pop up in her memory, looking for a way out in her work.

In her works, Ekaterina Smirnova willingly refers to the water element, which has become one of the most significant memories of her childhood. For Japanese aesthetics, water in any of its manifestations - whether it be a mighty ocean, a small babbling brook or a mirror surface of a pond, is always an infinite variety of the single essence of the world, visible through a small part of it.

In Japanese culture, space and nature are perceived in an aspect different from Europeans. Ekaterina Smirnova turned out to be close to both cultures. The artist remembered memories of how she perceived the winter in Japan. Unlike the homeland, where winter was associated with snow, the Japanese winter months were remembered by the dry, springy grass that covered the ground with a carpet, and people hiding from the rarely falling snow under umbrellas.

The theme is filled with symbols of ancient Japanese culture, constantly goes through the works of the artist. The exhibition includes a series of works by Ekaterina Smirnova “Gods of the Road”, where she addresses her favorite topic - travel. Each step on the road, symbolizing the path of life, is filled with a special meaning, and the Gods of the roads help people who follow their own paths.

Thanks to the original author’s handwriting, lithographs by Ekaterina Smirnova resemble drawings made by brush. You can admire the amazing works of the artist until July 14th.

Ludmila Trautmane © Gallerix.ru