Daria Dmytrenko's 'Journey to the Center of the Mind' at Stems Gallery

Ukrainian artist Daria Dmytrenko presents ‘Journey to the Center of the Mind’ at Stems Gallery in Paris, France. This exhibition explores the subconscious through intuitive and impulsive visuals that balance the familiar with the surreal.

Dmytrenko, born in 1993 in Dnipropetrovsk, creates works that blend elements of pseudo-anatomy with abstract forms. Her practice shifted dramatically at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, moving away from the structured approach of Kyiv’s National Academy of Visual Arts and Architecture. This change allowed her to paint freely and intuitively.

Her Parisian debut features small-scale pieces on wood, prepared with the traditional levkas method. She tints basswood, adds canvas, and layers gesso and glue to achieve a serene mindset. These pieces, reminiscent of icon paintings, depict imagined yet plausible imagery.
Using earthy shades, Dmytrenko’s compositions are shaped by the materials’ natural properties. She employs meticulous brushwork, occasionally diluting parts with turpentine to obscure resolved areas, creating entry points to the unknown depths of the mind.

Dmytrenko’s works evoke creatures of the ocean’s darkness or cave formations, conveying a sense of mystery and fear. ‘Journey to the Center of the Mind’ invites viewers to explore the captivating depths of the artist’s subconscious. The show is on view from June 6 to July 27, 2024.

Stems Gallery
11 rue Pastourelle
75003 Paris
France