Karina Skvirsky

Artist Karina Skvirsky uses photography, video, performance, and installation to explore themes related to identity, gender, and history. In her work, Skvirsky is interested in how history and culture shape our perceptions of self and other, and how individual and collective identities are constructed and transmitted over time. In the photography series "The Wandering Lake," Skvirsky immerses herself in the ruins of an artificial lake in the Mongolian wilderness, creating enigmatic images that challenge our conventional understanding of landscape and history. Through her exploration of this forgotten site, Skvirsky examines the complex interactions between nature, culture, and history, questioning our relationship with the environment and with the past. In her performances and videos, Skvirsky uses her body as a medium to explore issues of identity and representation. In "The Perilous Journey of María Rosa Palacios," Skvirsky transforms into a historical figure, a woman who fought for Peruvian independence in the 19th century, exploring her own personal connection to her country's history and politics. In other works, Skvirsky plays with the idea of performance as a way of "acting out" identity, interrogating the way we present ourselves and others. Overall, Karina Skvirsky's work is characterized by its commitment to exploring the complexity and ambiguity of identity and history, utilizing a variety of media and techniques to challenge our conventional perceptions and foster critical dialogue on the most pressing social and political issues of our time.