Last week in Dublin was pretty noisy, as there was Kristina Bagaeva’s exhibition. The exhibition, united by the theme of the interaction of nature and humans, is designed to show the influence of Homo sapiens on what we see now in the world and how we endlessly strive for progress while turning to nature and its greatness in moments of despair.

One of the artists whose works were presented at such an exhibition for the first time was Kristina Bagaeva. Her video art is primarily known for the way it balances on a fine line with performance: initially planned mise en scènes in Kristina’s creations begin to live their own lives over time. 

A distinctive feature of the artist is the desire for balance and moderation. It is these qualities that she preaches in many of her video arts. Her works are deep and hypnotic. They make the viewer freeze in anticipation of a new discovery. A person seems to hold “on the edge” for a few seconds before comprehending something big and important, which, like a powerful tide, falls on him from all sides.

However, in her new works, the artist turned to the elements, which, according to her words, give her strength in the most difficult moments of life – the sea. The main object here are waves, and the subject of research is the person himself and his condition, because this video is not just work but also meditation. Kristina invites a person to plunge into the sea of his own thoughts, experiences, and feelings and let each incoming wave carry away his sadness.

The presented video project includes a whole list of interconnected stages through which the viewer must pass as a meditation project. For example, it all starts with a breathing meditation; viewers are invited to undergo a breathing meditation (procedure) under the video sequence of sea waves: the tide of the wave is inhaled, the ebb is exhaled. Breathing is aligned exactly with the sound and rhythm of the sea vibrations and as close as possible to the natural rhythms of nature. In the process, participants begin to feel that the movement of the waves is the breath of the sea, infinite in time and space, and that their own breathing and their lives are also continuous.

“In a world of endless speeds and stresses, a person should have the opportunity to escape from the struggle with obsessive reality and live without proving anything to anyone – there should be a place and time for love and creativity,” says Kristina. “And in order for creativity to be truthful and sincere, the world needs attunement. However, the world is big, and the person in it … Read more