Casas Particulares
May 24 - June 28, 2014
Galerie Trois Points is delighted to present Casas particulares, a solo exhibition by gallery artist Olga Chagaoutdinova from May 24th to June 28th.
Olga Chagaoutdinova’s photo and video practice has a sensitive take on different cultures and social change. She has remained interested in her native Russian society where she often returns, as well as Cuba, seeking to document ways in which Russian and Cuban communities, stuck in between two eras, try to recreate their social identities. The artist has recently developed a series about Cuban private mansions – casas particulares – created for westerners so they can have a true American experience, which is coming from a highly idealized perspective. It is precisely this shift in perception that interests Chagaoutdinova’s reflections on the versatility of cultural identity.
Chagaoutdinova’s interiors feature highly evocative rooms with eclectic décor enhancing the rich textures. Empty rooms are presented in all their simplicity, objects as witnesses of a very authentic display of false opulence. The artist’s tightly framed shots guide one’s gaze to details indicating the presence and intentions of hosts: exotic decorative elements arranged among fans and flowers as signs of their hospitality.
Born in Russia, Olga Chagaoutdinova established herself in Montreal after her MFA studies in photography from Concordia University and undergraduate at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She won awards from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Centre interuniversitaire des arts médiatiques as well as a nomination for the prestigious Kandinsky Award in Russia. In 2012, she received the Eleonora Duse award at the Asolo Film Festival. Her work has been presented in numerous countries, notably China, Italy, Finland, Cuba, Russia, France, the United States and Canada. She is also featured in many private and public collections: National Bank of Canada, Collection de Prêt d’œuvres d’art du Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Hydro-Québec, Far East Museum of Fine Art, Centro Hispano-Americano de Cultura in Havana and Any Pilara Collection.