July 29, 2026
Since July 29, 2026, Natalia Hasanova's exhibition "Face to Face" has been on display at the Space-Up cluster (60 Chelyuskintsev Street). "You can't see a face when you're face to face. You can see a lot from a distance." These words from Sergei Yesenin's poem perfectly describe the way Natalia Hasanova's exhibition is perceived. Her works are not immediately apparent. They are not aesthetical, but they have a "something" and that "something" affects the viewer. This effect is not immediately apparent, but it develops over time. Her works are meant to act as a feeling, not an idea. "A painting is what happens to you when you stand in front of it." A work of art is not an object that contains meaning, but a device for generating states of consciousness. Then it becomes clear why sometimes a technically weak work turns out to be great, and a technically perfect work turns out to be dead. The former triggers complex processes in the mind and emotions, while the latter simply demonstrates mastery. The style of Natalia Khasanova's work refers to the trendy trend in contemporary art known as "Art Brut," which draws inspiration from primitive art, folk art, and children's drawings. Now, let's discuss the theme of the exhibition. This is not a portrait exhibition; it is a face exhibition. A person's face is a mirror of their soul. What is going on in our souls is reflected on our faces. Fear, joy, pain, insight, anger, and love – the full spectrum of human emotions. The viewer of the artist's work is required to perceive and empathize with this emotional message. The exhibition is an attempt at mutual understanding.
