ARTIST STATEMENT

My art is a reflection of how we experience reality, shaped by memory, perception, and emotion. I seek to capture the essence of human experience through the use of abstraction, rather than a focus on physical likeness or details. Rooted in the figurative representation of reality, my paintings are distorted by layers of ink and paint that superimpose memories over the brushstrokes. I am drawn to abstract forms and meaning, yet recognisable shapes and silhouettes often remain visible. Like fragments of memory that can be both vague and detailed, they create a space for the viewer to engage with the work in a more subjective and personal way, to speculate and find their own meaning within the artwork, as they bring their own life experiences and perspectives to the interpretation. This interactive dialogue between the viewer and my work is key. It creates a dynamic and constantly evolving relationship, which enriches both the art and the viewer's experience of it.

I don’t know where the painting is going when I start. I use unconventional tools (shower squeegees, recycled clothing tags and small found objects) instead of a brush to introduce an element of chance into the painting process that disrupts the figurative detail and opens up space for the viewer to connect with the work in a more empathetic way.
I don't paint from memory, but from the loss of it, and the abstraction of the image allows me to relive some of those moments in a different way. My paintings are a call for raw emotion, alluding to fleeting moments that are precious and dear to me. If my work can evoke similar feelings in someone else, then I am happy.

My creative process is fuelled by positive energy. I surround myself with beautiful objects and cultivate good vibes in my studio. I believe that the canvas captures the energy of the artist, and so it is my responsibility to filter what I let out into the world together with my work.

My art practice is informed by the philosophy of Jacques Derrida, particularly his ideas about deconstruction and the role of memory in shaping our perception of reality. Just as he deconstructs language to reveal its hidden meanings and assumptions, I deconstruct reality through layers of abstraction to reveal the emotions and memories that underlie our experiences. I aim to challenge traditional notions of representation and meaning and invite viewers to engage with their own perceptions and emotions in new ways and see the work through the prism of their life experiences, in line with Derrida's notion that meaning is always contingent on context and interpretation.

In my Abstract Portraits series, I explore the poetry and universality of human experience. It is not about the physical likeness but about the essence of a human aspect. This abstraction of the portrait allows each viewer to speculate, and feel the work following their emotional intelligence.

My Interior Of The Mind series explores the relationship between memory and perception, as well as the impermanence of our experiences. Using a base of geometric shapes, right angles, and perspective, I create an architectural structure that represents the stability of memory. However, the details start disappearing layer by layer, like time chipping away at the memories, and the still life in the paintings is distorted, broken into pieces, and then put back together again with a network of lines that obscure and bend perspective to unveil what's left once we forget. This process evokes hazy recollections of past memories, blurring the line between the familiar and the unknown, and invites the viewer to engage with their own memories and the process of remembering.

By drawing on Derrida's ideas about deconstruction and the role of memory in shaping our perception of reality, I hope to create works that are not only aesthetically engaging but also thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

- Anna Sudbina

EXHIBITIONS

PUBLICATIONS

2023 /June 26 - July 9 / Espacio Gallery / London, UK 

2023 / April 21-23 / Artdom / Grand Hotel, Oslo

2023 / March 9-12 / The Other Art Fair by Saatchi Art / Truman Brewery / London, UK

2023 / Feb / Artdom / Soho House, Mumbai

2022 / The Summer Exhibition / Drifter Galleries / Queens Park / London, UK

2022 / Drifter Residency / London, UK

2022 / Dulwich Artist's Open house festival / London, UK

2022 / Artitude fair / London, UK

2019 / Private Collection / Morrison & Foerster / The Scalpel / London, UK

2019 / SWA / The Mall Galleries / London, UK

2018 / Present Perfect Continuous / Zverev Centre Of Contemporary Art / Moscow, Russia

2017 / Flux Exhibition / Chelsea College of Art / London, UK

2017 / National Youth Art Trust Auction / Vitra / London, UK

ART PLUGGED: Female Artists Not To Miss At The Other Art Fair, March 2023

VOGUE India, Feb 2023, Artdom project

The Warriors Within Collective: Searching for beauty and equlity by Anna Sudbina, Published July 2022

ARTIT Magazine issue No5, 2018

Rise Art Prize, Shortlisted, 2018

Inchelsea / Online Article, 2017

STATES OF FLUX : MEET RUSSIAN ARTIST ANNA SUDBINA / Limitless World / Online Article, 2017

competition by FOCI Magazine, shortlisted, 2017

Hedonist Magazine: Fractions, interview with Anna Sudbina, 2014

VOGUE / High Plains Drifter by Mario Testino / work used in photo shoot, 2012