In the space between words
Copeland Gallery, London, UK, 2025
Group Show
Through a dynamic mix of media, the exhibition explores the complexities of identity, history, religion, and geopolitical shifts that have shaped the region. The works in the show engage with both the visible and invisible boundaries that define “Eastern Europe”, questioning notions of division, belonging, heritage and transformation. By highlighting the region’s rich cultural diversity and its ongoing reinvention, the exhibition encourages a broader dialogue about the fluidity of national and cultural identities in a rapidly changing world.
Maria’s project, The Adoration of the Mystic Goat, reinterprets the "retablo" format to explore survival, transformation, and self-perception. Her work examines belonging, displacement, and identity in the Eastern European context. Born in Belarus and shaped by life in the West, Maria navigates cultural hybridity, challenging stereotypes of Eastern Europe as a monolithic space. Through multimedia explorations of memory, heritage, and national identity, she reflects on cultural belonging. This becomes even more complex after renouncing her Belarusian citizenship.
Maria’s installation uses 100-year-old windows, vintage mirrors, and family archives to create an immersive experience. She invites viewers into “mirror thinking,” a process of self-reflection, to confront their own identities in relation to hers. Personal memory and historical symbols merge, prompting a deeper look at the self. All in all, Maria’s work challenges viewers to reconsider their identity within changing cultural narratives.
Curated by: Vera Hadzhiyska and Zula Rabikowska.
