video still from 'AlterGirl' film by Lira Lay

25 May 2012 in Roschtige Hund Aarau , Switzerland Short film Festival is showing LIra Kay’s film ‘AlterGirl’

19-20 May 2012 from 11-5 pm Lira Kay’s studio will be opening for visitors as part of Newton Open Studios. She will be showing wide range of works from different portfolios to give you good feeling of what her art is about. There will be oils on canvas, charcoal drawings, digital collages, abstract as well as figurative work. All works are for sale.

Come, meet the artist, enjoy exhibition and take some art with you. It is also a  good time to find out about the Newton Art Classes for children and adults Lira will be teaching in her studio from June 2012.

On 19 May at 5 pm Lira Kay and Daniel Kanaan will be launching an Newton Project Gallery with Art Shop, Newton Art Classes and new Exhibition Space.

Please come and join us for this celebration. We will be happy to see you!

The name of the show is Mnemonic Mirrors and it will be happening on May 22 – June 2, 2012.

Video stills from ‘Sirens’ film by Lira Kay, 2010

Making of the world, video still by Lira Kay

Exhibition exploring the subject of creativity and creator, centering on the question: ‘What does it mean to be an artist?’

I propose to show series of paintings, drawings, digital collages and video and sound installations focused on examination of artistic experiences and creative process in time and space, comparing it to shamanic, ritualistic act.

My educational background includes the study of Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology. Works of C.G. Jung, Levy Strauss, Rudolf Arnheim and Wassily Kandinsky influenced my research on the topic and inspired to dedicate this show to the exploration of the Artist archetype.

My work mostly consists of large abstract canvases and charcoal drawings. Also in the show can be included latest video and sound work and recording of performance art.

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Fighting with the River and letting River win. Charcoal and oil on board, 40"x48", Lira Kay

Artist’s Statement for the exhibition ‘Artist – Shaman’

“The experience that furnishes the material for artistic expression is no longer familiar. It is something strange that derives its existence from the hinterland of man’s mind, as if it had emerged from the abyss of prehuman ages, or from a super-human world of contrasting light and darkness. It is a primordial experience which surpasses man’s understanding and to which in his weakness he may easily succumb” – C.G.Jung

“The Artist archetype embodies the passion to express a dimension of life that is

just beyond the five senses… The signature of artist is not in what they do but in how intense their motivation is to manifest the extraordinary.” – Caroline Myss

Extraordinary transpire to manifests itself to an artist more frequently than usual.  Though artists don’t find that manifestation extra – ordinary, they think of it as a part of creative procedure: an occurrence arising from regular exercise of a soul. Implementation of all 5 senses and the consequent one, and the following next, and more: those that we cannot even envision, are all involved in makings of the artwork and ultimately in conception of the world: own world, collective world, imaginary world and others. Illusion of world already made, present and reveled can be resilient and even advantageous for most people, but not for an artist. He needs world not to be completed; he desires to be a part of invention and hungers to add his particular gesture into the pot. Motivation comes from within.

I believe anybody, yes, everybody, can be an artist and in fact is an artist at some point of they lives. That is when the Artist archetype takes over, of course just at the right time. 

We all remember having to make vital decisions and suddenly going against all odds and choosing some new altered path, one

that was not in the book, not allied to anything we ever learned or have done, something that led us subsequently to some providential incident, that transformed our life, not for better or worse, but in more profound, spiritual, inexplicable way?

Make choices that are extraordinary and result in our life becoming a celestial cycle rather than a singular casual circle is a job of an Artist, or even an Artist-Shaman.

The etymology of a word ‘Shaman’ is ‘the one who knows’. Discerning, realizing the odd, hidden movements of our soul, bringing them to life, breathing in the air of unknown to physical self, being a transformer of a wisdom that we possess, but perhaps not recognize under the layer of all that accomplished education, learned truth is what Shaman in you do.

I would like to take you to a journey with me, to the world familiar yet not obvious, to the place where senses are extra sharp and mind is almost silent and some other truth waiting to be discovered, where an Artist is aware of the context that your life is exposed to.  Where bare self is standing without a doubt, perhaps with fear and anticipation, but ready to indulge in empathy, alliance and understanding, ready to be called a Silky Feather or Fearsome Bear or other such names that justify your very nature, your belonging and your connections. 

 For me art becomes a tool for uniting body and soul, device for mysterious symbols to be translated into gestures that transform life into multilayered playground where everything is possible and is expected. 

Drawings, music, vibrant animations, invented languages that sound familiar and soothing, everything intends to put the

viewer in the comfort zone, the place he always wanted to be in, creates a habitat for a soul, content yet provoking existential questions, wakening and awareness. 

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Here are some links to video and sound installations

‘See you Tomorrow’ 4 minutes

’See You Tomorrow’ is a video and sound installation; it is a study of artistic experience. I look at the artistic process as at jumping from one reality to another.

The film was inspired by Mongolian, Buriatian shamanic chanting.

Why Buriatian and why shamanic? Well, my ancestors on my mothers’ side are from Siberia and they still practice shamanic rituals to this day. Buriatians are known for practicing a rare combination of Lamaism, Buddhism and shamanism. It is a fascinating mixture of beliefs that I would like to investigate in order to find my place in it.

‘Artist Shaman’ 2,20 minutes

Footage for this peace was recorded at a High School talent show and depicts an anonymous teenager  dancing for the audience at the intermission. The spontaneous buoyancy of his dance suggested an almost religious, sacred act.

I am fascinated by shamanic art and methods and enjoy translating intuitive, sensual, dream-like insights into something that can be seen, read and heard. I also love analyzing the happenings of life and human nature and believe in the connection and synchronicity of artistic performance and life.

‘Artist’ 2 min

‘Artist’ is a part of video and sound installation and is a peace based on the research of the Artist archetype.

Artist talks to her soul. She cries, she laughs, she confides, confesses, conveys, she sings.  What is she saying? We don’t know exactly, it sounds good, comforting, kind, healing. That’s all it takes to be an artist, do all that and indicate, reveal, confront the reality of your own on public. Broadcasting feelings at the risk of being booed, at the risk of being bought, at the risk of being confirmed.

Recorded performance ‘Garden. Making of mud paintings by Lira Kay.

“Garden” is a site-specific art-performance.

For the exhibition in Marseille Project Gallery, Marseille, France, 09.19.09  “Half an Hour from Paradise” Lira Kay made a series of paintings using natural materials she found in her garden, flowers, leafs, mud, burned wood, water, berries. The process  was recorded on  video camera and then made into a short film. On the exhibition you can also see the paintings produced at the performance.

The idea for the performance came from researching the making of  antique Syrian carpets. It is known that the most precious carpets  many hundreds of years ago, were commissioned by wealthy clients for a specific place, palace or  house. The pattern of the carpet had to include everything that could be found in the parks and gardens; the flowers, trees, the animals. The artist had to create a unique painting from which the carpet was woven.

Examples of some paintings, drawings and digital collages can be seen on my website, though the latest work dedicated to the ‘Artists Shaman’ is not yet publicized.

Here is a quick preview of the work in progress that can be exhibited, including paintings, drawings, digital collages and video stills. Sizes of the works wary from 40″x48″ to 12″x12″

For further information about this project please contact me any time.

Series of digital collages on the theme ‘When we were here’

include images from ‘Holy Grail’

‘When we no longer here’

‘We love eachother’

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All prints come in edition of 3, framed or unframed and are available for sale

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3rd Oslo Screen Festival, International Festival for Video Art

ArtFem.TV and my works will be presented at the 3rd Oslo Screen
Festival, International Festival for Video Art.
Many thanks to Festival Director Margarida Paiva, who invited ArtFem.TV.
The Festival is held from March 9 – 11, 2012, at different venues in
Oslo.

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still from film by Lira Kay 'Artist. Shaman'

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The presentation of ArtFem.TV by Evelin Stermitz is on Friday, March 9, 2012
at UKS – UNGE KUNSTNERES SAMFUND, Oslo, Norway

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Artist is a Shaman. Video and sound installation, part of Artist series. Visuals and music by Lira Kay.

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when we were here. we love each other.

recovered files, continuation of the post-apocalyptic theme. Random found files showing what the life was like when we were here. Don’t be sad, it’s just a hypothetical situation, we still have some time left on this planet. But do treasure every moment.

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Venus has been fascination me for as long as I remember. So I still make movies about her. This is new interpretation of the theme. Video and sound by Lira Kay. Enjoy!

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