History

Member for

29 weeks 6 days

Organisation Information

Name

Elena Kourenkova

City

Glasgow

Country

UK

Website URL

http://www.elenakourenkova.com

Brief Description

FUN & FROLICS-QUIRKY AND COLOURFUL PAINTINGS BY RUSSIAN-BORN ARTIST

Profile

I am a Russian-born artist based in Scotland. Some of my works might imply something very absurd and not entirely cheerful in their very idea, but I try to present the subject so it is slightly exaggerated and sentimental, and always filled with emotions. Russians are guided by their emotions, not by common sense, and this has an effect on all my work (whether I am paying myself a compliment here, I am not sure..).
My characters might look quite realistic and recognisable, but their grotesque figures make them look ironic-we see one thing but they tell us another. Like many things in life-things are not always the way they seem. In other words, life as we see it but don't always notice.
I want to provoke a comment, a reaction, an emotion. I want to make you smile.
Growing up under the authoritarian Soviet regime, when ordinary Russians had to wear that drab look of obedience and self suppression, I had always wanted to escape from that total uniformity and find the way to express my vision of life in a different way, reflecting happier, funnier side of everyday events.

My characters sometimes seem emotionally isolated, keeping themselves to themselves, even when they are clustered in groups, but they are not lacking emotions, they only express them in their own way. They are content and happy, yet they do not take themselves too seriously.

Exhibitions & Events

Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art
RGI Kelly Gallery
Paisley Art Institute and Aspect Prize
Home and Interiors Exhibition, Glasgow
Affordable Art Fairs London, Battersea, Glasgow, Chelsea, Birmingham, and Ireland First Contemporary Art Fair Edinburgh
Macmillans Cancer Relief Charity Exhibition and Auction, Glasgow and Edinburgh
Retail Trust Charity Exhibition, Glasgow
Marie Curie Cancer Relief Charity Auction
The Order Of St.John
The Preshal Trust Charity Auction
Children's First Charity Exhibition
Maclaurin Galleries Save The Children Charity Exhibition
University Of Glasgow Cancer Research and CHAS Charity Exhibition & Auction
Karen Tailor Contemporary Fine Art, Twickenham, London
Colombart Gallery, Marylebone, London
Enid Lawson Gallery, London
Regent Gallery, Weston-super-Mare,Somerset
Christo's Gallery, Glasgow
The Annan Gallery, Glasgow (Joint show with Francis Boag, April 2008 )
Arteries Gallery, Glasgow
Scotlandart.com, Edinburgh and Glasgow
Tartan Gallery, Edinburgh
Hanover Fine Art, Edinburgh
Rowan Gallery, Drymen, Loch Lomond and Helensborough(Solo Show -June 2008 )
Tolquhon gallery, Aberdeenshire
Westminster Gallery, London
The Jerdan Gallery, Crail
Castle Gallery, Inverness
Frames Gallery, Artesan Gallery, Perth, and Perth Festival
Central House of Artists, Moscow, Russia
Tracey McNee Fine Art, Glasgow
The Queens Road Gallery, Aberdeen
Art Fair, Sweden
North Ayrshire Open Art Exhibition
The Gallery, Troon
Auction Sale in aid of Yorkhill Childrens Hospital www.uglyduckexhibits.com- Feb 2009
"The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction - Spring 2009" at McTears Auction - March 2009

Venue

Studio

Type of Art

Figurative Art