Assel Sargaskayeva: Enchanted
November 17th – 19th 2023
56 Conduit Street
London
W1S 2YZ
The origin story of the correlation between magic and the female image is not often
mentioned, however, everyone is familiar with this phenomenon through the arts. The difference lies in the belief in these abilities.
The conflict between logical and metaphysical thinking tends to be on people’s minds. Assel Sargaskaeva notices the properties of signs, symbols, and things, explores her feelings, and shares her sensory experience. The name of the project is a symbol of its underlying meanings. For a long period of time, humanity has experimented with the interpretation of female images. Historically there was devotion to the “disarming” of women, reducing an influence on all spheres of social and political life.
One of the most insidious tricks was to impose a connection with the other world. The determinative texts of witchcraft considered women more prone to sin than men. The evolution of human consciousness has relegated issues of religion to the background, and modernity has created new mystical images. Now they are considered a source of strength.
This approach allowed women to find a new sincerity with the space for their ego and alter ego. All those qualities that used to be notorious such as aggressiveness,
independence, malice, ugliness, beauty, and thirst for knowledge, became tools for a successful life. Of no small importance in all this is the aspect of martyrdom, the price that had to be paid for independence. Historical events, such as the Holy Inquisition, were a harsh experience for mankind, but as a result, a woman defended the right to life and her own opinion in a patriarchal world.
Enchanted explores not only a certain state but a whole turn of time, Assel Sargaskayeva includes the public in the social discourse about the role and influence of women in the past and the modern world.This issue could be studied even furtherwith immersion into the history of Great Britain and its direct influence on the formation of New England: in 1563, Queen Elizabeth of England signed a decree that provided for the death penalty for witchcraft, after which, already under the reign of Charles II, the Puritan part of society was destroyed due to mass persecution forced to emigrate to America, which subsequently also introduced the death penalty, but was still much more humane in its religious manifestations towards women than in Europe.
Almost due to fate Assel Sargaskaeva’s project of exhibitions began in Kazakhstan, continues in the UK, and then will travel to the USA. This sequence allows you to get acquainted with the artist’s work from a philosophical perspective and explore an important problem from a temporal and territorial perspective.
Assel Sargaskayeva’s solo show in London is dedicated to the study of mystical female images, their sacred role in religious cultures, as well as the author’s personal spiritual search. The choice of exhibited objects is based on the concept of the exhibition and makes it logical for all selected works to be present.
Assel expresses her personal vision of the problem through this project. However, its understanding may differ from generally accepted views in the West. This will contribute to greater interaction between the audience and the artist and the fruits of her imagination.
©2023 Assel Sargaskayeva
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