Valentina Churilova “In search of Samādhāna ”

“In search of Samādhāna ”

paintings by

Valentina Churilova

“Stars descend on Earth” 12”/14”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

In Search of SamÄ dhÄ na I believe that the real marvel in art is in the process through which it comes to be. I work, I paint, for the sake of the lived experience of a painting that often leads to introspection and inspires deeper revelations. My paintings originate with a desire to depict an observed vision and thereafter follow the demands of the image that emerges on the canvas. It’s to this visual phenomenon that I surrender all my learning and practice of art.

Natural surroundings, especially trees, often serve as backdrops for my compositions. I create mixed media paintings with elements of collage.

Through detailed renderings, I explore the minutest of components in an observed natural environment. My works begin with such an observed element where the interplay of light and shade creates an atmosphere or situation that has the potential for poetic or philosophical references. This becomes a point of departure that takes the artwork beyond representational level. While adding and subtracting colours and textures I let the painting evolve. I choose inanimate elements for my paintings that are inherently beautiful such as intricately carved chairs or embellished fabrics. The elaborate man-made goods are juxtaposed on the textural patterns formed by leaves, rocks, or clouds.

Thereafter my objective is to reveal the interconnectedness of universal aesthetics in nature and creative potential that humans strive to express.

All the elements within painting create a matrix that reveals messages driven from our collective consciousness. There is some reoccurring

symbolism in my work: birds that suggest rebirth

through which music may flow. To me, this is the

dismissed as “atheism” and you may exercise

and a liberated self and trees that represent the

common characteristic that unites the

the right to be considered a spiritual seeker who

continuum of life. There are also empty chairs or

recognized masters of art across disciplines and

consider all religions as branches of one tree.

carpets that signify the experience of

time periods. I am inspired by this intangible

I look out for these renewed and reinstated

temporary or permanent displacement or

quality that is present in all great works of art

unitarian notions in the works of old masters as

migration. I explore the dual nature of the

whether by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Van

well as contemporary artists. It inspires me to

migration in our contemporary era. International

Gogh, or Rameshwar Broota or their

seek greater aesthetics through my own practice.

by its nature, movement of people across the

contemporaries.

borders, presupposes a deeply emotional

When you work you are a flute through whose

challenge to the notions of attachments, bonds

The flow of water is often used as a metaphor

heart the whispering of the hours turns to music”

and ownership as well as potential to dissolve

for unleashed and free-flowing energy and yet

- “The Prophet”, Kahlil Gibran

limitations in one’s spiritual and social evolution.

in terms of science, each molecule must obey the laws of physics. There is a similar dynamic

I employ a variety of historical and contemporary

between creative vision and acquired skills of

techniques as in a postmodern approach. My

an artist. Because my journey as an artist is

paintings thrive with objects that evoke intricate

closely connected to my meditation practice my

Indian painting styles that developed from 16th to

approach to creating art is to seek a balance

19th centuries. In effect, my paintings present an

between doing and not-doing. Both intellectual

amalgamation of European classical,

and emotional intelligence affect the depth and

impressionist, and expressionist techniques with

quality of meditation. However, the depth of

the precisely detailed storytelling elements of the

intelligence can also be evaluated by your ability

traditional Persian and Indian art. This use of two

to let go of controlled, conventional use of

different visual languages allows me to create

intelligence or skill. While working I constantly

Valentina has received training in traditional

suggestions of prose and poetry. Coexistence of

contemplate about how much effort I must apply

representational painting and drawing from the

different styles on one surface further enhances

and how much should I hold myself back in order

School of Kiev, Ukraine, under the guidance of Oleg

my philosophical idea about image making.

for the beauty in front of me to reveal itself. My

Zhyvodkov. While doing BFA at OCAD, Toronto,

About Valentina

task thus involves effortless-effort and surrender

Canada, she experienced the phase of

As I see it, in the natural world everything is

to the perceived image that must be allowed to

non-conformity and steadfastness of Western art.

made with an equal amount of engineering

dictate the choice of the apt painting technique.

Ultimately it was in India where all her learnings

precision and artistic craftsmanship, whether it’s

were put into perspective. Living in this country has

the smallest of particles or the grandest of

The emergence of post-postmodern has ushered

brought about many revelations that have

structures. The only way to become sensitive

in an epoch of reinstated belief in universal

contributed to her spiritual and artistic

to the subtleties of universal aesthetics is by

values as a singular starting point and the final

development. It is the place where eternal primordial

applying consistent effort to discipline the mind’s

destination. In our times’ primal importance is

value system is evident and prevailing in all aspects

attention to the interconnectedness of everything.

being given to the notion of universal archetypes

of life and has withstood the tests of modern and

When you dedicate time and conscious effort to

that adhere to primordial value systems. It was

postmodern “isms.” Here, under the guidance of Shri

your practice, the practice opens you to the

Carl Jung who examined that these archetypes

Rameshwar Broota, she has received the needed

experience of being an instrument for the

are common to all. In contemporary times

setting and framework to allow the integration of the

universal creative force. It’s like being the flute

non-adherence to one organized religion isn’t

traditional with personal and universal.

“Flares of expectations” 14”/16”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“Flares of expectations” (detail)

“A broken cage” (detail)

“Flares of expectations” (Detail)

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“Bird and broken cage” ( d e t a i l )

“Bird and broken cage” 14”/16”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“A long summer day ” 12”/14”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“A long summer day ” (detail)

“A long summer day ”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

(detail)

“Autumn song” 12”/14”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“Autumn song” (detail)

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“Autumn song”

(detail)

“Autumn song”

(detail)

“A stairway of ascent or descent ” 14”/16” Oil,mixed media, canvas

“A stairway of ascent or descent ”

(detail)

“A stairway of ascent or descent ”

(detail)

“White chair in the garden where they were” 12”/14”

Oil,mixed

“White chair in the garden where they were�

(detail)

“Simorgh the benevolent birds�

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“Simorgh the benevolent birds�

(detail)

“A glare in solitude”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“A glare in solitude�

(detail)

“Chasing a black rabbit ” 12”/12”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“In search of tranqiuillity or porcelain bird” 12”/14”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“Gates into Heavens”

(detail)

“Gates into Heavens” 48”/48”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“ Towards the light of hope” 48”/48”

Oil,mixed media, canvas

“ Towards the light of hope”

(detail)

“ Towards the light of hope”

(detail)

Valentina Churilova September 2001 – May 2006

March 2004

10th Annual Juried Figure Drawing Show,

Ontario College of Art and Design

OCAD Gallery, Toronto, Canada

Bachelor of Fine Arts AWA R D S

September 1997 - June 1998 The Design Institute of Ukraine, Kiev

May 2004

AV Isaacs Tuition Scholarship for proficiency in drawing and painting.

EXIBITIONS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

April 2018

“Nature Deliberated” Artcentrix Gallery, New Delhi

August 2010 – August 2012

February 2018

“In Search of Samadhana” Triveni Gallery,

Instructor for art projects, International Cabella School, Italy

December 2017

“Winter Show” Open Air Gallery, Triveni Kala

May 2008 - June 2009

Sangam, New Delhi

Teaching for mural projects at Arts for Children of Toronto, Canada

Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi

October 2017

Surrendra Paul Art Gallery at Sangeet Shyamala, New Delhi

September 2005-May 2010

November 2007

“Alter Toronto” Gallery 1313, Toronto,

Instructor at Visual Arts Mississauga, Canada

October 2007

“El Placer” Instituto Politecnico National,

September 2003-May 2005

Mexico

Assistant at KUMF Gallery, Toronto, Canada

Canada

September 2006

“Cycles Perfecta” Katherine Mulherin Contenporary Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada

March 2000 - August 2000

September 2005

“Origins” Etobicoke Art Gallery, Toronto,

Teaching assistant at Living Space Mural Project, Canada

June 2005

“Eyes of the Artists” 12th Annual Juried Art

June 1999 – February 2000

Show, Lakeshore Assembly Hall, Toronto,

Assistant KUBERA Gallery, Ukraine

Canada

Canada April 2005

“Metamorphoses Show” Ontario Society of

June 1998 - May 1999

Artists, 131st Annnual Open Juried Show,

Set designer at Franko’s Theatre

John B. Aird Gallery Toronto, Canada March 2005

11th Annual Juried Figure Drawing Show,

March 2005

6th Annual Juried Drawing Show, John B. Aird

OCAD Gallery, Toronto Canada Gallery, Toronto, Canada.

“ Towards the light of hope�

(detail)

Valentina Churilova TORONTO

DELHI

Phone: +1 (416) 856 7570

Phone: +91 85272 50554

www.valentinachurilova.com valentinachur@gmail.com

2019