Charity Exhibition:

Theme: “Luminaries of Meaning: A Woman's Strategy for 100 Years“

Ksenia Kudasova artist, curator, essayist 1985 Tula (USSR)
Currently lives and works in Paphos, Cyprus.
Ksenia Kudasova graduated in Apparel and Footwear constructing and design. She has Master degree in Contemporary art. Ksenia proceeds her art practice with Ivan Novikov, Ivan Gorshkov, Arseniy Zhilyaev, Alina Gutkina, Dmitriy Vrubel.
Ksenia Kudasova studies digital collectivity, therefore she is a member of several art collectives.

Founder of artist run space in Paphos, Cyprus.
Collaborator in 5 art communities.
Works with digital collectivity, mythology, ceramics and text.
Expands the theme of meanings, focusing the project's missions as a tool in contemporary art.

Nata Eremina Bio
A radical shift in the author’s way of life has led to a new theme and a new reality. In this context, previous experience can be left aside, which is why the author works under a creative pseudonym LuMEANarie.

Artist Statement
The author explores the ontology of meanings and reflects on how to fill life with purpose through the search for and realization of life’s meaning.
How does one find the courage to plan lifelong projects?
How can one stay true to their ideals when values and technologies quickly become obsolete, and how can one adapt to unexpected challenges?
The mission of “The Luminaries of Meanings" is to symbolically illuminate the winding path of a remarkable individual towards a fulfilled life. Each performance is site-specific, transforming according to the context and environment, uniting personal and collective meanings into large-scale projects that shape a brighter future.

Decorator Anna Eremina, artist, illustrator,
Student of Fresh Art College Cyprus, Paphos.

She works at the ‘Art Studio Paphos’, conducts classes with children, creates projects in fine art, illustration, theater and cinema.

The installation decorator, a representative of the generation of zero, tests meanings for strength in a dialogue between mother and daughter.

Theme: Meanings of life
I am working with the theme of the meanings of life.
Why does a person live? What gives him the strength to act, to realise his influence, his power, and what prevents him from going towards his dreams?
That's why the central figure of my installations is the lamp of meanings. It symbolises the ascent from everyday life to the sky, to the clouds, to higher meanings.

Theme: The Essence of Woman
In this exhibition I talk about my feminine meanings,
so we're painting on curtains, a symbol of the domesticity that a woman creates.
I highlight five feminine roles. Each of the roles is in me right now and that is what empowers me. It is the legacy we uncover in ourselves and pass on to generations. This is my journey of 100 years.

Theme: Collectivity
I'm exploring how people can support each other, because only by joining forces can we create large-scale projects. This is why networks are the central character of my compositions.
This exhibition is our joint project with my daughter. I created the concept, Anya created the sketches and canvases.
Anya has been drawing since birth, always, everywhere, every day. I admire her line; all her drawings give me a physical thrill.
I am happy to work with my daughter and it is a deep, priceless experience of intimacy for me. I have had many conversations with my mum about the fate of women and now I am continuing this conversation with my daughter.

The exhibition consists of 5 3 meters canvases created on curtains.
The canvases represent 5 hypostases of a woman: Girl, Lover, Mum, Professional, Queen.
The central object of the exposition is the Luminaire of Meanings. It is presented in the form of clouds of blue and white nets as a symbol of higher meanings. The orange waistcoat, according to Kazimir Malevich's color theory, attracts our attention and helps to keep the focus on meanings in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The exhibition continues outside the exhibition space in the form of clouds. My mother used to say to me: You're hovering in the clouds. Friends often repeat it. And I invite you into my world, into a journey in the clouds and let it fill you with meaning.

"The Luminaries of Meanings Across Centuries as a Resource for Daily Life" is a site-specific installation, created specifically for the play "Pineapples in Champagne" by the GoDar Theater Studio. In every space, the installation finds its own interpretation.
Instead of canvases stretched on frames, I craft luminaries, framing light with threads and historical female artifacts, using the warmth of women’s hands to paint a picture. The installation consists of three objects: two luminaries and a large connecting network.
The first luminary is born from the 21st century—minimalist and technological. A yellow cord, like an electric charge, gives me the energy to live brightly and fully every day. The black rain represents the chaos of everyday life, an illusion of endless celebration that often turns into a feeling of emptiness and meaninglessness. A fishing TV symbolizes the levels of human needs. Maslow’s pyramid flips, and the most pressing need becomes the search for meaning, as for basic survival and security, an iPhone, a Tesla, and a box of Jo Malone perfumes are enough. But minimalism demands a deeper exploration of the soul. To unlock one’s inner strength, the journey from ordinary woman to something… more powerful? The blend of modern and vintage inspires me, and I share this energy with the audience.
The second luminary guides us on a century-long journey, transporting us to Paris in the early 20th century, connecting the relocations of 2022 with the migrations of the past century. These artifacts from the early 1900s, suspended on strings like invisible nerves, offer glimpses of the play "Pineapples in Champagne"—the world of French allure, stockings, and garters.
At the center of the exhibition lies a giant network, symbolizing the intergenerational connection, merging the reality of internet culture and digital collectivity through LED cables, roots of wires, and a fungal network of memory, represented by flowing mosquito netting. This is a shield from the trivial busyness of daily life, from which the lost roots of relocation grow—like mushrooms, an allegory for preserving the highest ideals of art. Part of the network, as we move closer to the past, turns slightly yellow, dyed in onion skins, using the techniques of our great-grandmothers, just as I dye eggs before Easter.
The exhibition helps answer questions: Who am I, and where am I today? How do I fill my life with meaning and build resilience in the 21st century’s world of uncertainty, where we must constantly reinvent ourselves, change professions and locations, and adapt to unpredictable events? The essence of the composition is a journey of light, finding daily resources to live a bold and inspired life.

Girl

Girlishness is curiosity, an interest in life and people, a desire to play. But often it is a sense of weakness, helplessness, lostness.

My girl has many fears of the big world. This fear is ancient, it lies in the depths of the reptilian brain, so it is always with us. For me it is prehistory, the cave and fire that saves from wild predators, so the sketch resembles a cave painting.
The girl has one eye squeezed shut in terror. But the other eye watches with curiosity. Curiosity wins, the desire to play - sometimes with fire. So she runs forward.
Anja's sketch accurately reflects my girl.

References
The primitive world, cave paintings. Children's drawings.

Questions for the viewer
Was Aphrodite once a girl?
Do I give myself permission to be a girl? Recognise fear and anxiety and find ways to overcome it? To play? To be curious about the world and people?

Lover

A lover is a young girl between the ages of 15 and 25. It is the ability and desire to love. First yourself, then other people.
When I was 14 years old, I decided that the meaning of life might be to get married. Over the summer I was suddenly transformed from an ugly duckling into a charming girl.
Anya's sketch accurately reflects my mistress and the image of my daughters.

References
Art of Ancient Greece. Antique canons of beauty.

Questions for the viewer
Was Aphrodite once a girl?
Do I give myself permission to love and be loved? To give and receive love? To pamper myself and rejoice in simple earthly joys every day?

Mother

Filled with love, a woman naturally gives birth to love and becomes a mother, a wife, a hostess. She creates family cosiness and looks after the well-being of her loved ones.

I have three children and three times in my life I felt happy when I was pregnant.
In Anya's sketch, the mother looks lovingly at the baby and hums softly to it, or perhaps blows gently on it, connecting the breaths. But my active outside life, hectic life, work and varied interests prevent me from immersing myself in the role of a mother and I often suffer from guilt that I don't give enough attention and love to my loved ones.

References
Renaissance art, Christianity aesthetics.

Questions for the viewer
Was Aphrodite once a mother?
Do I give myself permission to immerse myself in the role of a mother? To care for my loved ones and experience closeness, peace and togetherness?

Professional

Having filled the home and family with love, a woman goes out into the outside world and becomes useful to society, developing her talents and realising herself in her profession.

I love to work. I have always worked and my work is my favourite business. The desire to explore new fields gives me energy and passion for life.

I have three children and three times in my life I felt happy when I was pregnant.
In Anya's sketch, the pro has many faces and hands. She looks at the world from different angles and creates systems from disparate elements.

References
Cubism.

Questions for the viewer
Was Aphrodite once a pro? In what?
How revealing is my role as a pro? Do I allow myself to do what I am truly interested in? WHAT inspires me and is of value to others?

Queen

Once realised, a woman can influence the world and create global projects.

I go about this role by reflecting and looking for ways I can be of value to the people around me and the world.

References
Metamodern

Questions for the viewer
How does Aphrodite influence the world?
How can I influence the world and what can I do for humanity? What kind of footprint should I leave behind?

On five three-meters canvases, the journey of a woman spanning a hundred years is visualized, revealing five archetypes: Girl, Lover, Mother, Professional, and Queen, guiding viewers through the centuries and stages of art history. Guests recalled their childhood, life stages, and roles, and felt how, by simultaneously embodying all of these archetypes, a woman expands her possibilities, strengthens her inner power, and gains greater awareness in the modern world.

The exhibition was dedicated to the touching story of Amira, a girl born blind. In collaboration with the "Rainbow in Cyprus" charity foundation, funds were raised for her holiday in Cyprus. Every attendee had the opportunity to contribute to charity, embodying the role of the Queen, symbolizing generosity and wisdom.

The exhibition was held in three languages and combined lectures, workshops, and a concert, creating a space for reflection, discussion, and active participation. It was a true celebration of art, meaning, and femininity, offering not only cultural immersion but also the chance for each of us to make the world a little kinder.

Installation ‘Luminaries of Meanings Through the Centuries as a Resource of Everyday Life’




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