Residence of Masha Obukhova
Earlier at the Vyksa art residence in 2023, Masha Obukhova laid the foundation for a project about a modern female superheroine, whose image is not specific or literary, but collective. It reflects the exploits of many girls and women even in the most inconspicuous things - managing everyday life and raising children. Revealing the powers of this character one by one, Masha singled out the voice as a superpower and thought about creating an instrument that awakens the voice, organically woven into the costume of a superwoman, as part of the residence in Gallery 9B. Museum artifacts and folklore suggested her forms - a helmet and a comb, and art crafts - material - iron, and techniques - forging and filigree. A series of 6 combs for each hand of the heroine are formally inspired by traditional forms of Mari and Finno-Ugric jewelry, which are often found in the Nizhny Novgorod area. Traditional Kazakov filigree combines the finesse and musicality of the wire twisted into a headdress, like hair into a hairstyle, with the rigidity of the form that protects and hides the heroine's face. The headdress and combs are connected for a pseudo-magical ritual of extracting the heroine's voice.
But this was one of the ideas. Another medium that interests Masha is textiles, and so she began embroidering an anti-heroine for her project on stoles made of Balakhna lace at the residence. But it was difficult to finish due to the deterioration of the material and the complexity of the restoration work by the artist, who tied up the holes with her embroidery. If the artist coped with the combs with the help of local blacksmiths, then with the helmet, even with the support of artists at the factory, it was difficult - all because of the technical specifics of working with filigree, which is difficult to use for sculptural, 3D objects. The artist also made several foil engravings, which was the end of her experiments within the residency, but they continued beyond it in the same vein. So the key result of Masha's art residency is the strengthening of her interest in metal. Getting to know the crafts of the city of Pavlovo and the village of Kazakova only confirmed her confidence in the chosen medium.
The project is part of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Art Residences program, aimed at developing creative industries and contemporary art in the region. The program is being implemented with the support of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Government and ANO Center 800.
But this was one of the ideas. Another medium that interests Masha is textiles, and so she began embroidering an anti-heroine for her project on stoles made of Balakhna lace at the residence. But it was difficult to finish due to the deterioration of the material and the complexity of the restoration work by the artist, who tied up the holes with her embroidery. If the artist coped with the combs with the help of local blacksmiths, then with the helmet, even with the support of artists at the factory, it was difficult - all because of the technical specifics of working with filigree, which is difficult to use for sculptural, 3D objects. The artist also made several foil engravings, which was the end of her experiments within the residency, but they continued beyond it in the same vein. So the key result of Masha's art residency is the strengthening of her interest in metal. Getting to know the crafts of the city of Pavlovo and the village of Kazakova only confirmed her confidence in the chosen medium.
The project is part of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Art Residences program, aimed at developing creative industries and contemporary art in the region. The program is being implemented with the support of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Government and ANO Center 800.
