Maya Malioutina ART

Maya Malioutina’s resplendent paintings are informed and influenced by the Japanese School of thought, Wabi-Sabi, a philosophy that embraces the idea of finding beauty in imperfection especially amongst natural settings and their inherent authenticity. Wabi-Sabi emerged in 15th Century Japan as a reaction to a contemporary trend of luxury and ornamentation. One could certainly argue that this has relevance and importance in our consumer and technology driven culture. With the artist following and incorporating aspects of both Wabi-Sabi and Kintsugi, the work has an inherent beauty as well as an appreciation for things that are both beautiful and multilayered. Erosion, Oxidation, peeling paint, rust, and bare boards all serve as a kind of poetic personal journey evoking the etched markings of wrinkles and scars. The paintings are all about texture. Everything appears highly tactile and three dimensional. Light is not reflected, but comes from within, permeating every layer, as it creates the narrative of aged surfaces. The creation of the work is a slow and patient process that involves many layers. Each piece requires anywhere from ten to forty layers before it matures. Viewers are invited to develop their relationship with the paintings as they allow themselves to be transported and experience what lies beneath and beyond them.