Mystical glow: Strokes of tradition

Striped, colourful patterns of hand-woven aprons, topography of rural landscapes, iconic gold and rich colours found in religious murals – all travel through Suzanna Pejoska's complex canvases with an intensity that belies her humble origins.

An artist from Aveyron, France, Pejoska's outstanding collection of 37 paintings on contemporary art is on display at the Majlis Gallery until November 12.

Vibrant memories

Her work is profoundly influenced by her vibrant memories of traditional dresses worn by the Macedonian village women and, more particularly, the colourful linear patterns seen on aprons.

Her abstract paintings are dominated by the theme of mono-chrome Rothko, like dense colour fields divided by vertical ribbons of paint integrated with 24-carat-gold leaves. For Pejoska, "gold is sensual and luminous. It creates magic in my paintings".

Worked intuitively and energetically by brush, palette knife and the odd finger, Pejoska's images reflect a warm, mystical glow and alternate between light and dark backgrounds.

Tradition and modernity

Linking tradition with modernity, childhood with adulthood, Pejoska works on both abstract and figurative patterns.

Pejoska, who has also ventured into the world of diptych art – a combination of two paintings with a three-dimensional effect, seemed optimistic about her stint in Dubai: "Dubai is a great place of art and I am sure that my art will match the culture of this vibrant city."

Pejoska plans to exhibit her paintings in Abu Dhabi, London and Moscow next year.

At a glance

Born in Macedonia, her family migrated to France when she was three and that was when her creative spirit started taking form. Obsessed with drawing from an early age, she began her tryst with art by copying artworks of some famous artists. Her first painting was linked to the design of a traditional costume.

Having received an overwhelming response to her first exhibition at Normandy in France, she was inspired and motivated into holding her first solo exhibition at Nimes in France. Since then, she has held displays at around 18 different places across France, Italy, Spain, Germany, England and finally Dubai.