SPIRIT OF THE EARTH Painting

Ekaterina Belukhina is a London-based multidisciplinary artist whose practice weaves together painting, photography, video art, and installation to explore the complex intersections of gender, power, and social inequality. Drawing from both personal experience as a woman and migrant, as well as broader cultural narratives, her work critically examines how contemporary society perceives and values women. At the core of her practice is the interplay between documentary and fiction. Through semi-biographical video installations, she captures real-life stories through interviews, layering them with fictional inner reflections to create a nuanced dialogue between lived experience and imaginative interpretation. Her oil paintings engage viewers on a sensory level, employing diverse textures and material properties to evoke emotional responses. Engaging with pressing social issues such as workplace discrimination, cultural stereotyping, and the influence of propaganda and media on identity, her work offers a deeply personal yet universally resonant perspective. Having navigated the complexities of migration, she is particularly attuned to how individuals are perceived through the lens of national origin. This awareness informs her responsive approach to political and social contexts, often materializing in performances, video art, and installations that reflect immediate cultural moments. Beyond direct social critique, her practice also interrogates contemporary art theories and the commodification of artistic identity by corporations for marketing purposes. Through various mediums, including manifestos and memes, she not only reflects on these dynamics but actively advocates for a more inclusive and authentic art world. Her work challenges the gender binaries perpetuated by media while exploring their profound impact on self-perception. Her work has been recognized internationally, with exhibitions at MUDI in Arte at Museo di Salerno and the London Art Biennale. She has participated in residencies at SpudWORKS (UK), Transhumanisme (Israel), and DOMUS (Italy). Her artistic training at the Visual Art Center by Ilya Gefter, alongside studies in Contemporary Art and Practice with Tzvetnik and Art Project with Get Art Fit, has shaped her multifaceted approach to artistic expression.