Uzbek artist Vyacheslav Useinov works with various media, including photography, painting, sculpture and installation. But his first exhibition in Dubai, “Mixed Threads”, showcases a different facet of the Tashkent-based artist’s versatile practice.
The show features his experiments with textile art, where the artist has used techniques inspired by the rich cultural traditions of Central Asia, such as tapestry, Chinese chi, quilting, embroidery and carpet weaving, to create contemporary artworks that blur the boundary between fine art and craft. The show is curated by Irina Bourmistrova.
“We chose to focus on Useinov’s textile works because it is quite unusual for a male artist to work with this medium. The variety of works in this show speaks about the wide range of themes and styles he works with, and the beautiful way in which he balances craft and fine art. The artist has exhibited his work at important exhibitions in Uzbekistan and abroad, and his works are in the collections of prestigious museums and corporate and private collectors. His first show in this region offers an overview of his mature practice and his experiments to add texture, sculptural elements and tactility to his artworks,” Bourmistrova says.
Using silk threads and wool as his medium, Useinov addresses themes related to daily life, yet his work is deeply philosophical. His sources of inspiration range from literature, cinema and media images to his memories, dreams and nightmares.
The influence of Modernism can be clearly seen in his “still life” tapestries. The subjects he has chosen for this series are ordinary objects such as a “Vase and a Pomegranate”, “Binoculars on the Table” and “Flowers”; but the bright, contrasting colours of the silk threads and bold, black contours of the objects give the works the look of stained glass, and infuse them with visual drama and intensity.
Other works such as “Table’s Edge” and “Lines for a Letter” invite viewers to step into the frame and perceive the artist’s inner and outer world through his eyes.
The theme and palette are quite different in other tapestries. “Black Beasts” — an emotional piece — references a bull fight to speak about victory and defeat, life and death. In this predominantly black-and-white work, the artist has used bright red threads to depict the fallen bull, and the open eye of the dying beast, which seems to be following the viewers, is a detail that takes the simple narrative to a deeper level.
In “Autumnal Topography” the artist takes a landscape as a point of departure for an abstract composition featuring the hues of the Earth, sky and autumn leaves. And in “Hammered Splash” he has skilfully created a sense of movement in an abstract tapestry. In another tapestry, he has added a sculptural element by incorporating sticks in the work.
The highlight of the show is a series of wall hangings made with the technique known as “chi”, which came to Central Asia from China in ancient times. Chi is a plant found in the Central Asian steppes, which is used for making traditional ornaments by wrapping chi stems with silk or wool threads. However, Useinov has replaced the chi stems with other objects to give his artworks a sculptural quality, and a unique, contemporary look.
In a series of wall hangings titled “Barcode Sequence”, he has wrapped silk threads in contrasting colours around rectangular plastic blocks to recreate different optical illusions that reflect the way he sees light through the prism of his own eye.
Through the seemingly simple yet complex play of colours and shapes, he has magically transformed the ephemeral movement of light into a tangible, tactile experience.
The centrepiece of the show is a monumental work titled “Caesurae of light during Fajr Salat”. Here the artist has wrapped silk threads in myriad colours around hundreds of bobbins and metal rods to create an abstract arrangement that beautifully captures the light at the time of the morning prayer.
Natalya Andakulova, director of Alif Art Gallery, says, “Our gallery’s objective is to showcase the talent and versatility of artists from Uzbekistan and Central Asia. In recent times there has been a tapestry renaissance with textile art getting a lot of attention from collectors and investors. We are proud to present the work of Useinov, one of the best contemporary artists from the region, who is using this medium to great effect and has won many prestigious awards for his innovative tapestries. With his striking concepts, colours and subjects, his work is a feast for the eyes.”
Jyoti Kalsi is an arts-enthusiast based in Dubai.
“Mixed Threads” will run at Alif Art Gallery, DIFC until November 20.
Soundweaving
As part of Dubai Design week, Tashkeel is collaborating with Budapest-based Hybridart to present a unique exhibition titled “Soundweaving”. This interdisciplinary, experimental and interactive project, produced at Moholy Nagy University, Budapest, brings together the work of textile designer Zsanett Szirmay and composer Bálint Tárkány-Kovács. But at the core of the exhibition are patterns derived from rugs created by Afghan women artisans who work under the Fatima Bint Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI).
The show straddles art, handicraft, design and music, equally stimulating all senses, and calling for interaction. Using various media, the project works with multiple methods, balancing the analogue and the digital, mapping visual and aural cultures.
–Jyoti Kalsi
“Soundweaving” will run at Tashkeel until November 5.
