This work by Maria Kostareva is part of her series, Precious Place. Maria strives for mindfulness through capturing and bringing to life those images that we normally endure only for a short while. She seeks harmony between humankind and urban architecture, similar to the unity with nature. The composition of her artworks is based on the principle of an accidental photo. The figures appear on the canvas, just as they would to a human eye, only partly. The images do not unfold into a narrative: they are nothing but the moments appropriated from eternity.

Says Maria of this work: “These characters, while remaining formally alone, find a reflection of their inner world in surrounding spaces. I would like to convey the close connection between a person and a place. At first glance, these are unremarkable spaces, yet filled with personal experiences; they take on a new sound. Quiet walks, observation, self-talk, the process of cutting – everything becomes meaningful in a precious place. And our inner strength lies in the ability to create such places.