Following the success of the Saatchi presentation, Anna was invited to curate a show for London Art Fair’s Art Projects in 2019 with her art gallery project, Abode.
Abode continues its commitment to supporting and promoting emerging talent, and following the success of the show at London’s Saatchi gallery, we were invited to curate a show for London Art Fair’s Art Projects in January 2019.
For the 2019 Art Projects, Abode is bringing together two female artists: Maria Agureeva, a Russian multidisciplinary artist; and Lindsey Bull, a British artist, working primarily in figurative painting. Both artists explore ideas on perceptions, ideology, psychologies and expectations, relating to the body in contemporary society, but through very different approaches.
Agureeva’s work is concerned with the process of objectification, as a result of our desire to change in order to escape social pressure. The artist explores how we model ourselves under the pressure of clichéd attractiveness, polishing our bodies just like billions of images are polished online. In this exploration the artist looks for the boundaries beyond in which the body becomes an object like any other. Agureeva uses mostly synthetic materials, as a means to stress once again that body transformation is a kind of artificial self design which has become a modern form of religion.
Maria Agureeva works with installations, objects, videos, performances, sculpture. She is a participant of IX international Andrey Tarkovsky film festival "The Mirror", Ivanovo (2015), a nominee of Kandinsky Prize (2013), a finalist of Arte Laguna Prize (2018) and the winner of Arte Laguna special prize (2018).
While Agureeva’s work is mainly responding to mainstream culture, popular social environments and media, Bull is particularly interested in the darker psychologies and side-lined, marginalised individuals - outsiders - on the fringes of cultural society.
Bull pushes the idea of transformation, “camouflaging”, to the extreme, often drawing inspiration from fashion magazines and books on rituals and witchcraft. Her characters, mostly female, are depicted costumed or unusually dressed and often - in unexpected, abstracted and ambiguous settings.
To the spectator it might seem as if they have intruded in something private, not intended to be discovered. However, as if protected by the enigma of their appearance and the theatrical setting, Bull’s characters gaze back with arrogance, confidence or indifference; challenging the spectator to question their preconceived ideas on image. This is one of the key aspects that interest the artist in her investigating - how the way we look can determine behaviour, relationships within a society, becoming a marker of a sense of belonging or refusal to belong.
The issues that the two artists raise are undoubtedly becoming more and more compelling and challenging in contemporary society, but both Agureeva and Bull approach them metaphorically, subtly, without an intent to preach or make loud statements.
It is notable, that although the artists apply very different media in their work, there is always an underlying affectivity to the work of both. The sensory powers, intrinsic to the medium of painting, are tied to the materials the artists use. The bright, bold, shiny candy like plastic in Agureeva’s work and sensual flexible, fleshy latex, are undoubtedly luring. Bull’s characters, although almost devilishly mysterious, are charismatic and seductive, adding to that – on a different level – the use of paint adds to the seduction, otherworldliness and appeal.
Bringing the work together will potentially create a new narrative, opening up new significance and raise new questions within the spectators.
Further information on
Maria Agureeva works with installations, objects, videos, performances, sculpture. She is a participant of IX international Andrey Tarkovsky film festival "The Mirror", Ivanovo (2015), a nominee of Kandinsky Prize (2013), a finalist of Arte Laguna Prize (2018) and the winner of Arte Laguna special prize (LA, 2018). Maria lives and works in LA.
Lindsey Bull is a figurative painter, who works mainly in oils and watercolours. Solo exhibitions include Dressing Up, Bo.Lee gallery, London (2018), Yellow, Varese, Italy (2015), High House, Oxford, UK (2013); Motorcade / Flashparade, Bristol, UK (2012); Transition gallery, London, UK (2012). Bull has participated in numerous group exhibitions, including at venues such as Steady Hands, Marrow gallery, San Francisco (2018) We Are Where We Are, Baltic39, Newcastle, (2018), Making the Strange Familiar, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester (2017), Liverpool Biennial Associate Exhibition, India Buildings, Liverpool, Centre d'art contemporain de Quimper, France (2014).Summer Show, The Contemporary British Painting Prize and The London Open.
The presentation attracted a lot of attention from curators, visitors and LAF organisers, with one of the work purchased for the collection of fair director. It also resonated in London press, creating long lasting post PR effect.
