My name is Seidana,

I’ve been preparing for this exhibition for six years. It all started with a simple gift of paper.
Fifteen years ago, I came across extraordinary handmade rice paper, crafted using an ancient Chinese technique. Even then, I knew it was for special works. So special that for nine years I hesitated to touch it, realizing my skills weren’t yet sufficient.

At the end of 2019, I found my first idea and the style I wanted to work in. I realized it was important for me to share my experience and worldview as a Kyrgyz woman. I wanted to convey not only traditional beauty but also touch on cultural issues that concern me.
As I worked on each painting, I felt an inner growth, and my thoughts took on a confident form. I didn’t always paint. Sometimes I gave up, finding myself at a dead end, not knowing how to depict and present a particular thought, but despite everything, I kept thinking about painting. You could say I suffered through some of them, because my heart works like a filter, passing all ideas. Over the years, only a few people have seen these paintings. I protected them from prying eyes, because a casual comment could have influenced the result.

Fifteen years later, I’m ready to show the world the result of my six years of work! And none of this would have been possible if I hadn’t been given paper.