I received the invitation one rainy April evening. The London wind had brought the modest, almost wintry 6 degrees Celsius and taken away my April hopes for spring. So, it was another one of those evenings spent in front of the computer, instead of with friends, or on a walk in the park.
The invitation came from Polly – Paola Minekov, an artist whom I had met online just a few days earlier. It was for the opening of an art exhibition of the South London Women Artists. The Private View promised to be an interesting event, and Paola was both an exhibitor as well as a co-organiser of the art show. I quickly RSVPed. Art is proven to be the best medicine against bad weather and is known to enhance one’s mood. Visiting art exhibits is a therapy in which time does not really matter. It sounded like fair compensation for the few rainy weeks that had kept me in and affected my social life.
My first encounter with Polly’s artwork was online. I studied her paintings carefully and was left impressed by the way the forms on the canvas were filled with movement and light. They took me right back to my childhood perceptions.
“My paintings are not just about depicting what the eyes see. They are an interpretation of the feeling for a particular place. Breaking down the forms into abstract geometry is my way of conveying the urban rhythm and vibration.” Paola Minekov
I couldn’t wait to see her work live.
The title of the exhibition was “Compassion” and it united the works of the artists, each of them working in her “element,” and accordingly, media such as painting, textile and glass…
The venue of the event, Marylebone Parish Church, whose history includes the wedding of Sir Francis Bacon and the christening of Lord Byron, wasn’t chosen by chance. The role and function of the church are inherently linked to compassion for human suffering. The feeling of peace and tranquility in the atmosphere of the beautiful building is like a balm for weary senses. The noise of the city and the bad weather remain outside, while inside it is warm and smells of lilies. Silence usually reigns, but now conversations can be heard from the ground floor.
The exhibition is located in the crypt, which is also an art gallery. Right opposite the entrance, there is a small prayer room. Here, everyone is welcome to pray and seek God’s blessing for themselves or those in need.
The energy of prayer is a focus in the artworks of Carry Hornby. The opened prayer book is a source of light in the darkness, and the annotation to her black and white silhouette of a nun asks the viewer, “And what are your prayers dedicated to?”
As Michelle Baharier, the woman behind the concept of the exhibition, will tell me later, “We are accustomed to the idea of compassion, which arises instinctively. But I believe that a person can learn compassion. It is embedded in human nature and it just needs to be ‘activated’. This exhibition is our way of doing that.”
Her painting of an anatomically correct heart is placed next to a symbolic image of a heart in the colours of the rainbow. The heart appears, in one form or another, in several of the artists’ works.
“I try to explore the world through the prism of the heart, not the mind. And although the emotional centre of a person is in the solar plexus, the heart is the most important organ in the body,” says Michelle.
“Since childhood, I have had a physiological problem and I undergo routine heart check-ups. Additionally, I have dyslexia, and through my engagement with art, I overcome barriers related to my physical and mental health. My mission and manifestation of compassion lie in organising events that give people the opportunity to express themselves through art. And also in creating connections between artists, so they can work together and feel seen and appreciated.”
The connection between art and mental health is a main theme for artists like Michelle, who provides opportunities for many people with problems to express themselves. This theme is also a nuance in the work of the young artist Emma Eden.
The painting Virginia and Artst Emma Eden
“Virginia” is a portrait of Virginia Woolf, regarded as an icon of modernism for her boldness in experimenting with the form and structure of language. In her life, filled with the loss of loved ones, and physical and mental torments, she finds solace and meaning primarily in her creativity. The writer is also known for the small publishing house she and her husband created. As a hobby and a way to tame her demons, she engaged in book printing in the guest room of her own house. “To Virginia, and to all those facing challenges,” is the dedication from the author of the portrait, Emma Eden.
The paintings by Paola Minekov, which I had previewed online, are not here. “Dancers and Circus” is a series of oil paintings on canvas, masterfully depicting a groups of dancers and circus actors during a performance. Most of them now belong to private collections, but those interested in owning them can order prints.
In the hall, there are greeting cards, printed with the artists’ works, and I chose several of them featuring Minekov’s paintings of Dancers. I receive “Ballet Black” with an autograph, along with the story of the creation of the original painting.
“A few years ago, I was invited to take part in a charity event – a ballet gala, featuring dancers from several companies, including the Royal Ballet and National Ballet.” Tells me Paola. “The dancers in this artwork are from the Ballet Black Company, and the preparatory sketches for the painting were created during a rehearsal for the event. The different colour nuances and highlights are the result of working with a palette knife. For me, this technique is at the heart of capturing movement and the changing lights on stage.”
The new period in Minekov’s artwork is dedicated to digital portraits, combining classic methods with new technologies.
Digital portraits by Paola Minekov
“To capture of the character of the sitter digitally challenges the artist’s mastery in a different way,” shares Paola.
For me as a viewer, this new direction of development is very interesting. The sensual female figures created by Paola, with layers of coloured lines, stand out with their clarity and minimalistic drawing.
“I work in several different techniques. I’m fascinated by new technology and enjoy experimenting. My paintings in this exhibition are digital portraits drawn on an iPad, and then printed in high resolution on acrylic panels. My journey to this point includes many years spent drawing. In the early years of my career, however important, I felt like something was missing. After a while, I realised that after accumulating skills, I needed to develop my creative concepts further. My quest led me to the Netherlands, where I graduated in ‘Communications and Multimedia Design.’ And at one point, maybe about two years ago, I decided that I wanted to combine traditional portraiture with digital technology. So, I started drawing digital portraits. Gradually they became popular, and friends started reaching out to me commissioning portraits of their children and friends.”
Photos: London Colour Walk, by Michelle Baharier and Richard Kaby
The people attending the opening are as interesting as the artworks on display. Some of them are like living paintings. Later, I realise that these are Michelle’s friends from the “London Colour walk“. Through emphasising vibrant colour combinations in their clothing, makeup, and accessories, the colour walkers become works of art themselves in my mind. Some of them are artists whose creative impulse extends beyond the boundaries of the canvas. For others, the “colour walks” are a way to discover their identity, cope with insecurity, or other issues. Belonging to the group and the opportunity to express themselves freely increases their confidence and joy in life.
Many theories in modern psychology consider trauma as a starting point and a factor for expanding the boundaries of personality and reaching new dimensions. The process of overcoming trauma can become a driving force for creating masterpieces, with numerous examples throughout human history. Confirmation of this theory is found in the personal story of one of the participants in the exhibition.
Dil Vahidova is the only artist in the group who works with glass. Dil is a doctor by profession, and the themes of compassion and empathy have always been part of her daily life. “I have often had to treat and bandage wounds, and over the years, I developed a fear of sharp objects, particularly glass. My eldest daughter, who is also a doctor, gave me an unexpected gift for my birthday—an art course on working with glass. Initially, I wasn’t sure whether to take it seriously, but gradually I managed to overcome my fear, and now I love transforming glass from a hard and challenging material into something fragile and malleable. My home is filled with glass forms that capture every beam of light and transform it into colourful reflections.”
Artists Dil Vahidova, Michelle Baharier and Carry Hornby at the opening of Compassion
While writing this article, I received a new invitation to an art event. Again, from Paola. Every spring, artists in the creative area of Dulwich Village and its surrounding open the doors to their studios for two consecutive weekends as part of the Dulwich Festival Artist Open House. It was in Dulwich where in 1811 the Dulwich Picture Gallery, first public gallery for fine arts on London was opened.
Minekov is exhibiting at the studio of the Dulwich Art Group, where she used to teach art at one point. The studio space is broken up with added movable panels displaying paintings by different artists. This time the weather, as if on cue, is perfect, and the doors of the studio are open (both figuratively and literally), with the smiling barista offering hot and cold drinks to visitors, while the music sets the wonderful artistic mood.
Among the many works in various styles, Paola’s paintings are the only ones combining classical and digital techniques.
“Creating digital portraits is a journey, combining the best of both worlds,” Paola smiles. “In the end, the artist’s style and skills are sealed in the digital painting, just as in the classic form of art. But technology gives you endless possibilities to experiment and innovate, the freedom and convenience to create anywhere. And the option to undo any action and perfect it until you see the perfect result.”
