Memory cells. Dreams - Oksana Okhapkina

A series of works “Memory Cells” I started in March 2020 in quarantine, when the whole world paused. Only my travel memories allowed me to start working on a new series of Memory Cells. Our memory is very selective; I am interested in exploring memory markers. They are many-sided memories: the first kiss, the smile of a baby, the taste of childhood, the smell, why we remember only certain moments in our lives. In isolation, the installation of the Portuguese artist Ana Vieira (1940-2016) and her installation “Ambiente – Sala de Jantar” (“Environment – Dining Room”) always appeared before my eyes. This once again shows how much a work of art can be, and how you can rethink it in the current time and moment, and how much it matches your current worldview. It was a litmus test for me, which you put in a glass and you see a chemical reaction. Such a chemical reaction showed the picture “Dreams”. Where in a confined space in his room the kid dreams of the sea, or maybe I used to dream very much about the sea, which I saw for the first time in my 30s. Whether it will remain a dream, whether it depends only on us, as it turned out not. The whole world has paused, and now attempts are just beginning to enter a normal course. Therefore, the question arises that a person appreciates what he has to lose. For me it is freedom. What is happiness when there is freedom, when there is freedom of movement, when there is freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom to do what you like? When you can freely walk the streets, travel to different countries and go to the sea.

Memory cells. Travel to Portugal - Oksana Okhapkina

The idea of ​​painting came about after visiting Portugal. I was so inspired by this bright, cheerful country that I tried to write in the style of the traditional Portuguese Azulejos, which is a painted clay tile, most often square in shape, burnt, glazed, measuring 14 cm by 14 cm. These are small plots, my memories of this amazing country. The idea was also to fill the picture with light, color, the joy of life, art, and so that each storyline echoes the neighboring one, and that when looking at the picture you also wanted to go there.

Memory cells. Family - Oksana Okhapkina

Now we live in a difficult time, when everyone is scared of the virus. However, what else, if not quarantine, could force us to slow down and reflect. What is important for us … Money, career, success? On the other hand, the health of their loved ones, the warmth of spiritual conversations, the unconditional love of relatives. At such moments, you begin to appreciate the time spent with people dear to yourself. The memory cells themselves begin to give out happy moments that you want to capture for centuries.

Abu Dhabi,Sheikh Zayed Mosque - Oksana Okhapkina

Dubai.City - Oksana Okhapkina

Woman-Ukraine from series Women of the World - Oksana Okhapkina

Transformation - Oksana Okhapkina

Untitled - Oksana Okhapkina

Flow#4 from series Information Flows - Oksana Okhapkina

The series of abstract works “Information Flows” – 2109 arose as a result of my reflections. How much is now available to man, how quickly everything is changing, how quickly artificial intelligence is developing. What’s next? What must people do to save this world? How to improve the environment? How does art affect the inner world? We need spiritual food! What is the soul, what is the mind, what is love? There are concepts that can be drawn only abstractly. When the aspirations of the soul and mind coincide, this is true happiness!

Affectionateness - Oksana Okhapkina