Life at the Edge of the Colour
exhibition by Inga Knyazeva, curated by Oksana Chelysheva
Opening 12.12. at 17:00
Exhibition: 13. – 22.12.2024

Inga Knyazeva: Manifesto

“I grew up in a family of academic artists. They personally took charge of my strict training in drawing, painting, and composition. For as long as I can remember, I felt an inner rebellion against these perfectly constructed lines. I wanted the line to be alive, unpretentious, even if uneven or crooked. There’s beauty in that too. I shifted my focus from the academic to abstract expressionism, seeking ways to express not just an external picture, but the mood and state hidden within it. It turns out, one can speak through an uneven, trembling line, a cluster of spots, or a random stroke. All of these carry emotion and create an image. Gradually, I abandoned bright colours and embraced more subdued tones, reducing them to minimal accents. The language of silence, quiet contemplation, and even a sadness about the fleeting nature of time came into play. Inevitably, memories of the past arise—not always vivid, but sometimes simple, warm, and familiar. Something without excess, natural and genuine—old streets and houses. And I want to paint them simply, like in childhood, as I remember them, glimpsing from a window or passing by with a schoolbag. Perhaps this is happiness—the warmth bestowed upon us by our loved ones. It lingers in old things, in old houses and streets. Maybe our soul trembles at something long-forgotten yet familiar. Such emotions cleanse and brighten us. When you let go of the vibrant, saturated language of colour, moving toward a more modest palette or reducing it to minimal accents, a new language emerges: the language of silence, of quiet observation, even of sorrow or melancholy over the brevity of time. Each of us occupies a small segment of it, our own place, filling it with what is necessary—or unnecessary. And in our memories, what surfaces from the past isn’t always vividly painted or grandiose, but often simple, warm, and dear, free of excessive decoration, natural and authentic streets and houses. Happiness is carved from personal moments buried in the depths of our memory. It has the power to warm the soul and melt a tear. Perhaps such emotions make us purer and brighter. I deeply wish for my works to affect the viewer in this way.”

Biography

Inga Knyazeva, b. 1964 Lipetsk, Russia (then part of the USSR). Both of her parents were monumental sculptors. During her childhood, the family moved to Donbass, settling in Donetsk, where Inga later met her husband. In 1991, she enrolled at the Art Academy in Kyiv, studying in the Art History Faculty. However, her education was interrupted by the birth of her daughter. After moving to Israel in 1997, following her husband’s decision to relocate, she completed her studies in Moscow. Inga describes herself as “a Russian from Ukraine who has lived in Israel for 24 years.” While in Israel, she trained as an art teacher at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. For the past 20 years, she has run a private art school in Ashkelon, offering classes to both children and adults. After the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, Inga and her daughter decided to return to Ukraine. In Ashkelon there is still a small shelter for cats and dogs Inga established. It is now her husband who takes care of the animals.