Katya Muromtseva's Watercolour Triptychs on Women Immigrants at NIKA Project Space

NIKA Project Space in the UAE presents 'Over the Slopes of Speech', the first solo exhibition of New York-based artist Katya Muromtseva in the country. On view from 1 March to 4 May, the show features monumental watercolour triptychs that explore the narratives and histories of women immigrants. The works originate from interviews Muromtseva conducted with immigrants in the USA and during a month-long residency in the UAE, where she spoke with women who had moved from Ukraine, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, and other countries. The exhibition title is drawn from a line in Mahmoud Darwish's poem 'No More And No Less', which addresses women's refusal to accept societal roles. Muromtseva, who became an immigrant herself during the Russia-Ukraine war, uses the personal stories to reflect on themes of home, borders, and resilience. The watercolours, characterized by fluid figures and a vibrant palette of ochres, greens, blues, and black grid-like lines, blend figuration and abstraction. Additional triptychs from interviews in the US with women from Kazakhstan, Mexico, Egypt, and Romania are also included. NIKA Project Space Founder Veronika Berezina highlighted the empathetic power of the works and the gallery's vision of fostering dialogue.