Natalia Kozhukhovskaya

project 01. amsterdam 2018

In my paintings I study relationships and, specifically, love. While painting portraits
I engage in a conversation with the portrayed person and that is how I get
to know people: establish relationships;
fall in love. The embodied rhythm of the conversation itself, the process of synchronization or friction is rather more important to me, than the subject matter and the content of the conversation. Sometimes silence is pure gold and it's the most important conversation.

What matters to me is if a person is willing to open up to me and how this person does it. This process of making
a portrait through conversation is all about intimacy, vulnerability and desire to see the stories that constitute someones’ subjectivity. It’s a dialogue, when I open up as well and share my stories. When I unveil something intimate, I expect the same in return. I’m vulnerable and I invite the person in front of me to be vulnerable as well. We are no longer strangers anymore; we look at each other with different eyes. Trust, acceptance and love are emerging in our eyes and gestures. This process and its magic is what I’m working with.

INTRO 1

I want to share the results of the project «Selfie for myself». 
I was shocked by how many women whose beauty and gorgeousness and energy I admire do not feel loved by peoplethey are surrounded, experiencing the imposter's syndrome. BUT that's nice, they accept and love themselves, their body. Not to show off, but with themselves, in privacy with themselves. And they want to capture this with an accessibleway at this moment. With their phone. And these photos arenot intended for anyone, it is very personal and thereforevaluable. All the paintings are very different, stylistically,compositionally, energetically. And to each I approach with  a new mood and attitude and after a personal conversation.

INTRO 1

I want to share the results of the project «Selfie for myself». 
I was shocked by how many women whose beauty and gorgeousness and energy I admire do not feel loved by peoplethey are surrounded, experiencing the imposter's syndrome. BUT that's nice, they accept and love themselves, their body. Not to show off, but with themselves, in privacy with themselves. And they want to capture this with an accessibleway at this moment. With their phone. And these photos arenot intended for anyone, it is very personal and thereforevaluable. All the paintings are very different, stylistically,compositionally, energetically. And to each I approach with  a new mood and attitude and after a personal conversation.

INTRO 1

I want to share the results of the project «Selfie for myself». 
I was shocked by how many women whose beauty and gorgeousness and energy I admire do not feel loved by peoplethey are surrounded, experiencing the imposter's syndrome. BUT that's nice, they accept and love themselves, their body. Not to show off, but with themselves, in privacy with themselves. And they want to capture this with an accessibleway at this moment. With their phone. And these photos arenot intended for anyone, it is very personal and thereforevaluable. All the paintings are very different, stylistically,compositionally, energetically. And to each I approach with  a new mood and attitude and after a personal conversation.

INTRO 2

I am photographer and one of «Selfie for myself» project girls! Yes, you can find my portrait here too. Natasha’s works inspired me as a girl who likes to explore new places and cities to integrate her paintings to urban environment and found a fit place for each girl, including myself! After all, everyone dreams to find their ‘right’ place in the big city.