Mariya Kozhanova

Artist Statement

“Cherry in vernal glory
but blossoming is not eternal
and fewer flowers
remaining every new dawn
for me in this frail world…”

– Kagawa Kageki

Two Sisters is a poetic story about youth at its most powerful and fragile stage. Just like the change of seasons, we could not stop the way of growing up. The beauty of this moment and fragility is fascinating and annoying in the same time. Pure innocence of beliefs and thoughts are intertwining with new desires as they become powerful temptations. The perfect world is becoming too tight and restricted. Unconsciousness is giving permission to break through the vulnerable stage of pure beauty.

Bio

Mariya Kozhanova was born in 1986 in Kaliningrad, Russia. During 2007, she took photography classes at the Kaliningrad Union of Photographers, studying analogue camera techniques. From 2008 to 2017, she exhibited with her photo projects in Russia, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Denmark and Finland. In 2012, FotoFest Houston presented a large retrospective on Russian Photography where Mariya’s photographs were exhibited as part of the Young Generation of Russian Photography. During the 5th Seoul Photo Festival, for the first time, the series Declared Detachment was presented as a part of the exposition of Russian Photography at Lotte Gallery and later on at Young Portfolio Acquisition, Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts, Kiyosato, Japan as well as at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. In the year 2016, Mariya has been exhibited with Declared Detachment during Photovisa, Russia; Brandts Museum, Denmark and at Galerie Alles Mögliche Berlin, Germany. Last year, Mariya Kozhanova exhibited during Backlight Festival. Her works have been published in Le Monde Magazine, New York Times Lens Blog, Vision Magazine China, Foto Magazine Czech Republic, Emerge Magazine Germany, fotoMAGAZIN Germany as well as in several SHOTS magazines from Minneapolis. Mariya is a member of the Kaliningrad Union of Photographers and a World Press Joop Swart Masterclass alumni.