Between Silence and Surface: Portraiture at the Edge of Visibility
The Ukrainian Art House in London is hosting the exhibition 'Between Silence and Surface. The Appearance of Skin' from May 18 to June 30, 2026, under the curation of Tetiana Bairaka. This showcase examines the boundaries of visibility in portraiture and includes works by Ukrainian artist Alina Pyatnova (Limpika Lilac) and British artist Anthony-Noel Kelly. Pyatnova’s pieces, 'Shiny Dolls' (2021) and 'SHE / Porcelain Flesh' (2023), portray skin in a hyperreal and glowing manner, while Kelly’s ongoing 'Ambassadors' series (2016–present) features religious figures rendered in an impressionistic style. Bairaka posits portraiture as a fluid concept, challenging commodification and prompting vital discussions about its role in the digital age, despite installation constraints.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Between Silence and Surface. The Appearance of Skin' runs May 18 – June 30, 2026 at Ukrainian Art House, London.
- Curated by Tetiana Bairaka.
- Features works by Alina Pyatnova (Limpika Lilac) and Anthony-Noel Kelly.
- Pyatnova's series include 'Shiny Dolls' (2021) and 'SHE / Porcelain Flesh' (2023).
- Kelly's series 'Ambassadors' (2016–present) portrays religious leaders.
- The exhibition examines portraiture at the limits of visibility.
- Bairaka's curatorial framework focuses on portraiture as an unstable image resisting commodification.
- The installation is critiqued for lacking spatial clarity and visual dialogue between works.
Entities
Artists
- Alina Pyatnova
- Limpika Lilac
- Anthony-Noel Kelly
- Tetiana Bairaka
Institutions
- Ukrainian Art House
- Juliet Art Magazine
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Linden Gardens