Elen Bezhen

Joined Artfinder: Oct. 2023

Artworks for sale: 28

France

Updates from Elen Bezhen's studio

  • Solo Exhibition “Doline des Monstres”

    Solo Exhibition “Doline des Monstres”

    The solo exhibition “Doline des Monstres” was held from February 8 to March 7 in the cozy setting of the Gwendoline café-gallery. Visitors had the opportunity to view my works and enjoy desserts and coffee. This exhibition was the result of a year and a half of my life in France. During this time, I created a series of works reflecting my journey into the world of Medieval aesthetics. Portraying modernity through medieval images and motifs was an incredibly interesting challenge for me. It allowed me to see contemporary trends and issues in a new light, enriching them with historical associations and depth. The vernissage, held on February 10, gathered numerous guests who were the first to see and appreciate the presented works. Throughout the entire period, the exhibition was open to the public, providing an opportunity for everyone interested to immerse themselves in the world of art. Many positive reviews from visitors and high attendance were clear indicators of the event’s success. The “Doline des Monstres” exhibition not only enriched the cultural life of the city but also demonstrated the importance and relevance of studying historical periods in the context of contemporary art.

    23 May 2024
    Solo exhibition “His wife is a chicken”

    Solo exhibition “His wife is a chicken”

    “His wife is a chicken” is an animated film for adults created by director Igor Kovalyov at the Pilot Studio. It premiered in May 1990. This surreal film depicts family life: the wife is constantly busy in the kitchen, preparing dinner, and taking care of a strange pet—a caterpillar with a human head. Meanwhile, the husband operates a bus-player on a gramophone record. Suddenly, a stranger wearing a hat, coat, and mask enters the house. He tells the husband that his wife is a hen, which leads the husband to throw her out of the house. However, time shows that the husband cannot live without her and calls her to return. Upon returning, the wife sees that her husband has bird legs. Covering her face, she walks away. The plot of the cartoon is quite complex and open to various interpretations, each differing significantly from the others. I decided to try creating a comic inspired by the Soviet cartoon “His Wife is a Hen”. The cartoon lasts 12 minutes, and to convey the story, I needed 70 pages of illustrations. I depicted this story in comic form to later print a small edition of the book. In the end, I organized a solo exhibition at the Xavier Jouvin Gallery where I showcased the entire process of creating this comic.

    23 May 2024
    Exhibition “Matière sensible”

    Exhibition “Matière sensible”

    For its 18th edition, the University Cultural Festival embraces the delicate nuances of fragility. Through this event, the University of Grenoble Alpes aims to place students at the heart of the program and to honor their creativity. This year, we have rethought our approach to offer better support to our young talents with the guidance of artists and professional cultural and artistic figures from the region. From March 26th to 29th, a series of events as diverse as they are sensitive will take place across various university campuses and cultural venues in the Grenoble area, making artistic expression the bridge between disciplines and institutions. During this week of festivities, embark on a journey to discover nearly forty projects, where fragility will be the beating heart of their artistic expressions. Begin your journey with a “Délicabaret” at the Amphidice, then continue to the Bastille where the exhibition “Sensitive Matter” awaits you, before facing a musical storm during the “Into in the wind” evening at EVE. Through theater, dance, singing, visual arts, music, and even virtual reality, students invite you to explore the nuances of our delicate world, appropriating and transforming our vulnerability into strength and our fragilities into transcendent beauty.

    23 May 2024
    A copy of Pieter Bruegel.

    A copy of Pieter Bruegel.

    I’ll tell you a bit about how I copied Pieter Bruegel de Jonge painting «Winter Landscape with a Bird Trap» which is housed in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow. By the way, this painting was copied 127 times in the 16th century, with 45 of them being original. The painting is small - only 38.5/57.8 cm, done like all other Bruegel paintings in oil on wood. To replicate such a miniature and detailed painting, I also prepared a wooden base and achieved a perfectly smooth surface with primer. Next, I had to outline the most accurate drawing and only then start painting. Honestly, I learned a lot about how Bruegel worked just by staring at this painting for hours and trying to decipher the stages of paint application. Thanks to my academy and student ID, which allowed me to visit the museum for free, I went to the Pushkin Museum almost every day, memorizing different details to replicate them in my work later on. So, about a year passed. The copy turned out to be very close to the original, and I learned a lot. I ordered an Italian frame, which was also similar to the one in which the original painting is framed. In the end, this experience gave me a big boost in developing my skills, which is priceless.

    07 May 2024
    The process of the artist's work

    The process of the artist's work

    In the art world, work and consistency are often valued as highly as talent. For an artist, the hours spent at work are no less important than those moments when an interesting idea comes to mind under inspiration. Sometimes inspiration comes unexpectedly, but more often it is the result of hard work. Creating many sketches, experimenting with different techniques and materials, in–depth study of objects and themes - all this forms the basis for future paintings. Each sketch is a step towards perfection, each of which the artist approaches with a new level of skill and understanding. These rough designs allow the artist to explore different ideas, compositions, and color schemes without fear of making a mistake. After all, many great paintings were not created the first time, but were the result of a long and painstaking preparation process. Many sketches also reflect the evolution of the artist, his path from simple forms to complex ones, from general ideas to unique concepts. They indicate the artist's willingness to work until his vision becomes clear, and his hand embodies all the conceived ideas on the canvas. Every artist knows that sometimes to find inspiration, you just need to start working, and then it will come in the middle of the process, at the most unexpected moment.

    22 January 2024
    My exhibition.

    My exhibition.

    As an artist, I often participate in group and solo exhibitions. Participation in exhibitions plays a key role in the career of any artist, providing many opportunities for development and success. In addition, exhibitions stimulate my creative growth. This experience always inspires me to experiment and explore new topics or techniques, going beyond the usual practice. It is also a time when I can get feedback from the audience and professionals, which is valuable for the development and improvement of my artistic practice.

    15 January 2024