Publications/Articles/Catalogues
The Year's Best Art
The Artist's Magazine, USA (December 2009, p.33)
by Tamera Lenz Muente
“If a painting needs a lot of explanation, it should have been a book or a song rather than a painting,” says Russian-born artist ARINA. “I always hope that my paintings can speak for themselves.” “I use my face as an actress does to express emotions or feelings,” says Arina. The artist deliberately altered details of her likeness so as to best depict the feeling she wanted to convey. Choosing to restrict her palette, Arina paints in monochrome to play up the influence of light, dark and middle tones on the forms. She typically accentuates the central black-and-white image with a single color, most often red.
“In Russian folk or fairy tales, often the word red is equal in meaning to the word beautiful,” she says. In many cultures, the color red is associated with passion, and, as the artist points out, “the images and objects which have been created with passion can take on an immense power that’s sometimes found in religious art—a kind of powerful energy that has an ability to alter one’s mental state and even transform reality.”
Arina has completed her master’s degree in fine arts at Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London. She’s now a full-time artist and says, “For me, painting is like breathing—I just have to do it.”
Battersea artist is the face of National Charity
By Eleanor Harding
The Wansworthguardian, London, UK, Thursday 18th June 2009
This striking self-portrait by a Battersea artist who lost her brother to cancer is the new artwork for a project run by Sue Ryder Care.
Silence, by ARINA from Albert Bridge Road , will feature on all marketing material for the charity’s art exhibition this year.
The artist said: “I know firsthand how important and valued quality end of life care is. I lost my brother, Alexander, to cancer.
"It was an incredibly difficult time, I loved him very much.
“As well as supporting the charity to raise vital funds, it is my way to honour my brother’s memory.”
ARINA, whose brother died five years ago, based her piece on depictions of the Egyptian queen Nefertiti.
The Russian artist studied at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and now exhibits all over the world.
The exhibition, called Art Liberating Lives, will be held from December 16 to 20 and will sell work by artists of all abilities.
It will take place at London’s Mall galleries, with 35 per cent of profits going to the charity’s end-of-life and long-term illness care.
London artist performs emotions in paint.
ARINA exhibits in London
by ADAM CORNELL
15 April 2009, The Maldon Standart, England, UK
All my passion is for portrait painting, but I suggest that my work is a performance rather than traditional portraiture. ARINA
An award-winning artist is returning to the scene of one of her greatest achievements for her next exhibition.
ARINA, originally from Russia but now living in Battersea, London, will be exhibiting two of her works at the Mall Galleries, London, after winning the art critic award there last year, which was presented by Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
Her work will be on show from April 23 to May 3, after she received a special invitation from the Society of Women Artists.
She said: “I am looking forward to it. I went to Mall Galleries when it opened and there were leaflets for visitors, which is howl found out about it”.
Arina was born in the far north of Russia, closer to Alaska than Moscow, before moving to an area close to the Ural mountains.
It was here she discovered the beauty of nature and colour and decided to begin painting.
She said: “Painting was my passion from as far back as I can remember and I painted everywhere I could.”
She studied in Russia and then in 2005 gained a place at the Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design in London, followed by a place at the Chelsea College of Art.
Speaking about her art,
Arina said: “I always work in hope that my paintings can speak for themselves. I put my thoughts, my feelings and- emotions on canvas by brushes and paints.
“I believe, if a painting needs a lot of explanations, it should have been a book written, or a song, or lyrics rather than a painting.
“All my passion is for portrait painting, but I suggest that my work is a performance rather than traditional portraiture.”
In her work she aims to perform an emotion and paint this, rather than a traditional self portrait, to help portray “a symbol of emotions or feelings’. She usually paints herself as she is the most available person for her to work with.
She said: “During my life I went through a very long journey towards the point where I am now, with the opportunity to be an artist and to do what I love most in my life.”
“The Smile” and “Behind the Smile” will be on display at the gallery.
For more information on the artist or the exhibition visit ARINA-ART.com or society-women-artists.org. uk
by DB - The Vagabond
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Let our artists rather be those who are gifted to discern the true nature of the beautiful and graceful. Plato
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These are the amazing stories of ARINA and Vladimir Dukelski. The lives of these two people fascinate me because they are stories about surprises, the unexpected and the happy results of being uprooted and having one's life drastically changed.
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ARINA was born in a small remote village in for northern Russian, closer to Alaska than to Moscow. Wherever this little Cossack girl went she saw nothing but the fields of relentless arctic ice and snow. When she was 4 years old the family moved to the Ural Mountains. Upon awaking the first morning she was amazed to see, for the first time in her life, flowers. She was so astonished at the colors and so afraid they would be covered over by the whiteness of the snow she was used to that she went immediately to work trying to capture the colors before they disappeared. It was at that moment she became an artist
She painted everywhere she could, on walls, doors, furniture, fabrics, clothes. As she grew older she studied at art school and was very influenced by the Russian school of drawing and painting. Quite by accident she heard about the University of Arts in London, England. She applied, was accepted and eventually received a Masters in Fine Arts. Now she lives in England and exhibits in galleries in Europe and America.
" I believe that we all create the World within our energy and I do believe in the Power of the Universe." ARINA Comments:
I think stories like these are why I don't like to hear from others or say myself the words 'why not me?'. People have emerged from the most impossible places to make themselves possible. They were true to themselves and their desires.
Truly they did what they must.
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
PoetsArtists Mgazine, End of the Year issue, USA, no.28, pages 36-39
The Art of the Portrait, Journal of the Portrait Society of America, USA, 2011, issue no.57, page 16
The Art of the Portrait, Journal of the Portrait Society of America, USA, December 2009, issue no.46, page 16
LICC-London International Creative Competition, 2010, catalogue, Asterisk press, USA
SAATCHI Gallery, Art of Giving 2010 exhibition, London, UK, catalogue
Arte Laguna Art Prize 2010, Venice, Italy, catalogue
The Society of Women Artists 2010, Mall Galleries, London, UK (catalogue)
Occidenatl Dimension, Brighton, UK, catalogue
Cork Street Gallery, Annual Open Art Competition 2010, London, UK, catalogue
The Art of the Portrait, Journal of the Portrait Society of America, USA, December 2009, issue no.46, page 16
The Year's Best Art, Tamera Lenz Muente, The Artist's Magazine, USA, December 2009, page 33
A good reason to get arty, The Daily Mirror, London, UK, Monday, September 21, page 33
The Society of Women Artists 2009, Mall Galleries, London, UK (catalogue)
Cork Street Gallery, Annual Open Art Competition 2009, London, UK, catalogue
Fringe MK-2009, Milton Keynes, UK (catalogue)
Saving Lives with Art, The Wandsworth Guardian, London, UK, Thirsday, June 18
Introducing the face of Sue Ryder Care's Art Liberating Lives 2009: London-based artist Arina Gordienko, 11 May 2009, available from
Arina Exhibits in London (Maldon Artist Perfoms Emotions in Paint),
Adam Cornell, The Maldon Standart, Maldon, UK, Wednesday,April 15,2009,p. 9
Stand-out Students, The Artist's Magazine, USA
The Society of Women Artists 2008, Mall Galleries, London, UK (catalogue)
First Biennal RBSA Open Portrait Award, Birmingham, UK (catalogue)
Cork Street Open Art Exhibition 2008, Cork Street Gallery, London,UK(catalogue)
Affordable Art Fair 2008, London, UK (catalogue)
MA Chelsea Final Degree Show 2008, London, UK (catalogue)
National Open Art Competition, Chichester, UK(catalogue)
Saatchi Competition to uncover Art Idol by Ben Hoyle, The Times, London, UK, Friday, March 2, page 27
Xhibit 07 (catalogue) University of Arts London, London, UK
Book Cover - Therapy, Philip L. Moore, 2006, Upfront Publishing LTD, England
