Maria Soldatova's Blue Coral Art at GRIFFIT, Milan

Maria Soldatova's solo exhibition 'Blue Coral Art' at GRIFFIT in Milan (2026) transforms the Soviet tradition of beadwork into conceptual art. Each bead serves as a minimal unit, repeated to form organic, coral-like structures that blur nature and artifice. The technique, called 'corallo,' evokes roots, branches, and slow growth. Soldatova, who studied Artistic Therapy at Brera Academy of Fine Arts, first revisited beadwork for a piece on white as mourning, using milky and transparent beads. 'Cascata' explores blue, with beads cascading like water, emphasizing time and meditative process. Red compositions suggest veins and heartbeat. The series 'Mimetizzazione' photographs her works blending into natural landscapes, reflecting her identity as a foreigner seeking integration. For Fuorisalone, she also presents functional objects: lamps covered in black 'corals,' jewelry, and wall pieces. A white installation appears as cloud, ice, or submerged in water. The exhibition investigates transformation of material, gesture, and identity through repetition.