Marina Jijina | The Work
Statement
Marina Jijina's traditional and classical training in St.Petersburg Ioganson Fine Art school at the Academy of Fine art has formed the foundation on which she developed her unique imaginative style. Portraits,which act as complex metaphors for human emotional and psychological experiences. Painted from imagination, these are not portrayals of specific people - they are signs, symbols, or collective images which describe through the medium of painting, intimate and emotive experiences of the mind. Without aid of photographs, Jijina pursues solely her memory as reference material.
Painting for Jijina is a method of exploration of her own subconscious mind in attempt to understand other people and find her identity.The aesthetic attraction of the face is not essential to the artist while expression of emotion through face is of value and becomes an allegory of beauty. Jijina believes that painting is a free form of expression of any aspect of the human condition. Having drawn and painted from an early age, she finds an artistic activity is a necessary means of communication.
Since graduating from St.Petersburg Herzen university with BA in Humanities, she has been studying Philosophy of art under a mastership of a professor from St.Petersburg State University. Marina has exhibited in Russia and England since 1998, including solo exhibitions in St.Petersburg, Russia and Cheshire, England. Recently, Marina organised and featured in an art happening at the Anna Akhmatova Museum in St.Petersburg. Marina lives and works in London.
CV
EDUCATION
1983-1990 Studied at Ioganson Fine art school for the Academy of Fine art in St.Petersburg
1992-1996 Studied at Herzen University in St.Petersburg,BA Humanities
2009-2011 Studied Philosophy of Art under the mastership of V.Melas,professor of St.Petersburg State University
FUTURE EXHIBITIONS
Casa Batllo Showcase 2011: International Exhibition of Contemporary Art.December 2011,Casa Batllo museum,Barcelona,Spain.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1996 Pushkin house, Notting Hill,London,England
1998 Cafe Idiot, St.Petersburg, Russia,' Phantoms of St.Petersburg'
2007 Halo Showroom, Altrincham,Cheshire , 'Intentions of the Mind'-Solo exhibition
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Dec 1996 Moscow, Russia, Design of Christmas card for a prominent Russian Bank
1996-1997 Rowley Gallery, Kensington Church Street, London
June 1998 Cafe Idiot, St.Petersburg, Russia, 'Self-Portrait'
Nov 1999 Bravo Brewery, St.Petersburg, Russia, Still Life 'Beer and Fish'
2000-2002 Icelandic Consulate, St.Petersburg, Russia, Permanent display of several oil paintings.
2000-2003 Cafe Idiot, St.Petersburg, Russia-Permanent display of 'Stephen's Portrait' in main chamber of city's premier bohemian cafe-bar.
Feb 2004 C-Art Exhibition, Lancaster, England
2004-2007 ArTZU Gallery, Manchester, England
2005 Altrincham Society of Artists, Exhibitions in Hale and Dunham Villages, Cheshire
Dec 2008 Forms EmPATHetic art group with two Russian and another British artist
May 2009 Wrote EmPATHetic Art Manifesto
July 2009 Gallery Saraj. Anna Akhmatova Museum, St.Petersburg, EmPATHetic art . Russian-British Project
2010 Manifesto EmPATHetic art published in 'Life.Security.Ecology' journal ,2010 #1-2,page 194
7th July- 30th August 2011 Oxford House Gallery, Bethnal Green,-'Portrait of Jacques Derrida' to take part of People and Portraiture exhibition.
September 2011 Drawing Connections, Siena Art Institute, Italy
COLLECTIONS
Foyer Andre Foundation Resource, Switzerland
Siena Art Institute Library collection, Italy