All pictures by Khalid Elsawi / The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: For Poland-born artist Monika Bulanda, retaining her strong values while making something visually attractive for a very diverse group of people is at the centre of her “Balance” exhibition.
The exhibition opened on February 13 at Cultural Village Foundation - Katara.
The art pieces Bulanda has selected for this exhibition, which are mostly comprised of many squares stitched together onto a canvas, possess a sort of “concave” quality to them. The pieces look bent-inwards, like looking at the bottom of a hollow bowl. This creates an impression in the observer the he or she can gaze endlessly into the still work of art.
This is in no way a byproduct of chance, Bulanda explained, as the artist deliberately wants her art to “pull you in.” The viewer’s gaze is as much a part of the piece as the work of art itself.
The relationship between the viewer and the artwork is central to Bulanda’s philosophy, with her fascination for windows and their framing of the outside world playing a significant role in her creations.
While living in New York, Bulanda said she would look outside her apartment window and see the other apartment windows facing hers.
Since New York is a city well renowned for its cultural diversity, the 800-language speaking metropolis would provide Bulanda with a view of the apartment windows of families from South Asia, Africa, and the many other cultures cooking up in the Big Apple’s melting-pot.
Diversity of culture is something that Bulanda herself embodies. Born in a small rural town in Krakow, Poland, the artist is a polyglot who speaks five languages – among them Turkish and Chinese. She has travelled extensively and has lived in many countries.
Some of the singular square spaces that make up her artworks contain fragments of still images that may contrast, expand upon, relate to, or negate the overall theme of her piece. They usually feature people, patterns, simple solid colours, cars, or other items – many of them cultural– that play a part in the narrative aspect of the piece.
When asked why cubes are featured in a number of her art pieces, she told The Peninsula that it relates to a sort of “awakening” she experienced as a 5-year-old girl upon discovering that adding simply few lines between two squares would give them a three dimensional look.
As a musician, Bulanda is a skilled drummer who has rocked the stage with some of Turkiye’s biggest names. She has been performing on stage ever since the age of thirteen she said, believing that the music was a gift given to her, never something she deliberately walked into.
Bulanda explained that, although her musical chops do not factor that much into the making of her visual art, many of her exhibition’s visitors remarked that they “see the music” in it.
Holding a copy of her new book, Drums and Dreams, Bulanda discussed with The Peninsula her artistic process, the impact her travels have had on her, and her maturity as an artist. The unifying theme behind them all has been “balance,” the exhibition's namesake.
Bulanda noted that, in 'balance', she is able to present herself and her vision to many different cultures. This balance, she said, enables her to express herself and connect with people, whether they share a common language or not.
'Balance' exhibition will run until February 28, from 10am - 10pm at Katara Building 18, Gallery 2.
