Gallery Shchukin to Present JOURNEY TO A MYSTIC LAND, 3/5-4/30

Gallery Shchukin presents Journey to a Mystic Land, a solo exhibition of works by Dashi Namdakov, one of the most original voices in contemporary Russian art. Drawn from the last twelve years, the exhibition will showcase over 60 works including bronze sculptures, works on paper, and jewelry that blend motifs and traditional materials of the East and the West. On view March 5 - April 30, 2015, Journey to a Mystic Land is the artist's second solo New York show in two years.

Namdakov's work is steeped in Buddhism, or rather Lamaism, a religion practiced in Tibet, Mongolia, and his native Buryatia. However, rather than making works in the mainstream Lamaist/ Buddhist tradition, he creates art within a worldview that is syncretic, embracing his identity, mysticism, the forces of nature, nomads of the steppes, and shamanism. Namdakov draws his inspiration from Buddhist imagery and subjects, the traditions of the Turkic peoples of Siberia, the Buryat epic legends and tales, and the art of ancient China and Japan. Yet despite its traditional sources, his art is at the same time very contemporary in its world view, where characters from mythology and religion are metaphors for modern day life.

"The goal is this exhibition is to offer a chance for personal contemplation of Dashi's world. Very likely our comprehension of his work will differ from that of art historians and critics," says Nikolay Shchukin, director of Gallery Shchukin. "The first impulse is to cast Dashi as a traveler from the world of the pre-Mongolian steppes and early Buddhism. It's easy for a Western viewer to accept it as a beautiful Eastern fairytale but it is much harder to understand it. It is my hope that the exhibition brings us closer to this understanding."

The unique blend of traditions is especially prominent in the artist's jewelry, which is a special part of this exhibition. Sculptural and delicate, his jewelry --wild birds, animals, insects, anthropomorphic creatures-- resemble historical artifacts, ancient amulets and talismans thought to protect from the evil eye or bring luck. These exquisite pieces are usually crafted from precious metals and gemstones, sometimes incorporating non-traditional materials - such as mammoth tusk - which are used in native crafts and, despite their sculptural quality, are comfortable to wear.