Pablo Torres: What can be hidden in abstraction?
Written by Laura Moylan
5/9/2023
Will You Bury Me? by Margarita Kovalkova. Photo credit: Courtesy of Atticus Arts Gallery
Over the past two decades, abstract artist Margarita Kovalkova has created several different series, from laconic monochrome paintings to colourful canvases replete with repetitive figures, colourful circles, or fields of single, pure colour. Although Margarita’s paintings cannot be attributed to a specific genre, they are all fascinating abstract works that transport the viewer to another dimension. Her techniques rely heavily on creativity, emotions, imagination, expertise, and vision.
Margarita Kovalkova, Time Peaks, 2022, oil on canvas, 59” x 59” (150 cm x 150 cm).
Photo credit: Courtesy of Atticus Arts Gallery
In a work on display at the Atticus Arts Gallery, Time Peaks, Margarita shows a pattern of intersecting lines when viewed close-up. However, when viewed from a distance, a complex arrangement of various geometric shapes emerges. Looking at this canvas, the viewer may feel like they are entering a meditative and sacred space of someone's subconscious. In her paintings, Margarita incorporates multiple meanings through deeply thoughtful titles that hint at socio-political and meditative contemplation. She creates beautiful paintings, and their physical form is very attractive. Kovalkova is extremely focused and consistent, using a laborious technique to achieve the right level of pigment to create huge colour fields.
The relationship between surfaces and materials in Margarita Kovalkova’s work is largely influenced by her childhood experiences. When Margarita was a child, her father and grandfather took her to the construction site where they both worked part-time, to show her the process of their work. There, as a young girl, she observed how the workers mixed and poured cement, a process that deeply fascinated her. It was during these visits that she discovered her sensitivity to texture, a trait that would later manifest in her art.
Will You Bury Me? by Margarita Kovalkova. Photo credit: Courtesy of Atticus Arts Gallery
As Margarita embarked on her career, she faced an underlying tension related to national identity. Her Tatar heritage, which should have been a source of pride, was often overlooked due to the suppression of identity issues in a multinational state. Inspired by the absence of national representation in art, the young artist turned to US abstract impressionism, influencing the direction of her early works.
Some of Margarita’s early pieces reflect her fascination with colour and craftsmanship. For instance, The Letter of Grief portrays four triangles in subdued tones intersecting at a single point. The lines in this painting are precise and immaculate, showcasing the meticulousness that defines her artistic practice. Margarita’s dedication to craftsmanship remains central to her work, allowing her to evoke emotions through the materials she employs.
Margarita Kovalkova, The Letter of Grief, 2021, oil on canvas, 33” x 78” (83,8 cm x 198,1 cm). Photo credit: Courtesy of Atticus Arts Gallery
In the mysterious realm of Margarita Kovalkova's abstract art, emotion and intellect intertwine, inviting viewers on a journey of introspection. With each stroke, she transcends traditional genres, evoking a profound sense of wonder and self-discovery. Kovalkova's work is a testament to the limitless power of artistic expression to illuminate the depths of human experience.
The exhibition 'Will You Bury Me?' by Margarita Kovalkova will be on display from September 4, 2023, until October 8, 2023, at Atticus Arts Gallery (11a Queen Street, Bath).
Laura Moylan is a writer and moving image curator based in London, and a runner-up in the Film and Video Umbrella and Art Monthly Michael O’Pray Prize.
The Michael O’Pray Prize is a Film and Video Umbrella initiative in partnership with Art Monthly, supported by University of East London and Arts Council England.
