Sakha Mother Spirit (Aiy Aisyt), Charcoal, pastel and pencil on paper over birch panel, 74” x 44”, 2020
For Immediate Release
January 25, 2021
Clark College’s Archer Gallery presents
Calm Under the Waves in the Blue of My Oblivion
a virtual exhibition by Yulia Pinkusevich
Exhibition dates: February 19, 2021 - April 18, 2021
Artist Talk & Opening Reception: February 19, 12pm Pacific Time
Artist Workshop: March 12, 12pm Pacific Time
All events are open to the public and will be held virtually via Zoom (links TBA at website below). For more details, and to view Calm Under the Waves, please visit: www.archergallery.space
Artist Statement:
In this time of great division and uncertainty, I find myself longing for unity, embracing feminine intuition, and looking for answers from ancient wisdom. Last year, I learned that my maternal ancestors were indigenous Siberians who (likely) practiced forms of shamanism in the Sakha region of Russia. Siberia is one of the richest areas of biodiversity, known for its harsh climate and extreme landscapes. I spent my childhood summers in these environments with my grandparents - but because native Siberians were brought to the brink of extinction by white Russian settlers in the nineteenth century, very little indigenous culture remained there by the time I was a child. When Stalin's regime then systematically purged shamanism (and all other religions) in the 1920s, a multigenerational amnesia around native heritage and sacred practices afflicted the region. For my family, this amnesia left only the remnants of what seemed like strange, forgotten superstitions.
Seeking to both reconnect with my lost heritage and contribute towards healing the planet, I began to learn about Earth Living Systems and Gaia Theory, scientific insights built upon indigenous cultural knowledge, the practice of bio regeneration, and sustainable land stewardship. This ongoing project, including Calm Under the Waves, has led me to expand my knowledge and reframe my own beliefs about thriving pre-colonial civilizations. The Sakha series depicts my own journey through time, meditating upon my connection with an ancient Siberian lineage and exploring the spirituality of my ancestors as a source of inspiration and life.
Yulia Pinkusevich, Sakha Mother Spirit (Aiy Aisyt), Charcoal, pastel and pencil on paper over birch panel, 74” x 44”, 2020.
Please contact Michelle Ramin, Director of Archer Gallery, for inquiries.
360.992.2246 | www.clark.edu/archergallery | mramin@clark.edu