The beauty of nature explored in Ukrainian-Canadian artist’s moss exhibit

🔊 Listen to Post

The University Women’s Club of Vancouver will display “Moss Affair” at the Hycroft Manor in Vancouver from now till Dec. 5. The exhibition explores the beauty of nature and features artistic moss installations created by Ukrainian-Canadian artist Anna Vagramova. 

The exhibit is dedicated to colour and a sense of freedom, and sends a message of positivity and hope in the midst of war in her home country of Ukraine. 

“Moss Affair” conveys the idea of being “engaged with something, but you’re still not sure if it will stay.”

Any mistake made while using moss as an element in her art is “still nice and pleasant,” Vagramova says. She started experimenting with the material three years ago and was fascinated by its expressiveness and variety.

After seeing moss art at airports, Vagramova was inspired to use the material to create mosaics and puzzles, each telling a different story. She compares this technique to magic realism in literature, a genre where narrative techniques are combined with fantasy. 

“It’s a story within a story. I’m trying to create a composition where if you put it in the office, and look [at it] every day, you will find something new,” Vagramova says. 

She explores three-dimensional moss application in her art, meaning some pieces are short and tall, while others are flat and fluffy. One of the techniques Vagramova says she uses in her art is lavish, which involves combining multiple colours and shapes into a mosaic.

Another technique used in the exhibit involves rolling Spanish moss, characterized by long threads, into cylindrical shapes and applying them to the canvas. 

The exhibit displays more than 20 pieces of moss art which are also for sale, starting at $45 per frame. 

Vagramova was inspired to explore the beauty of nature in her pieces from her father who wrote short stories about nature in Ukraine. After recently visiting Paris and London, she realized the stone-carved industrial buildings need a splash of colour.

While live-walls are an option, they’re also short-lived compared to moss which can last up to 10 years. 

Vagramova says she wants her work to be exposed and free to touch rather than being behind glass. She also uses a combination of antique and modern frames for her art.

“Some people pass by, and they just touch it, and they are in a better mood after that.”

The exhibit also features a mannequin of Canadian civil and women’s rights activist, Viola Desmond. The structure created with moss, coral roses, and textiles won second place at Fleurs de Villes, a floral contest held in Vancouver, last year. 

“I think women in general and women in art should be showcased and supported, because it’s really hard to start as an artist,” Vagramova says. 

She says the exhibit gives her exposure to other women who are passionate about art and culture. Vagramova also invited female volunteers from Ukraine to help with the exhibit to provide them with the opportunity to further their careers as new immigrants to Canada. 

“I was so happy that I showed them the way, and now more women can explore this opportunity,” she says. 

Vagramova wants attendees to take away optimism from her exhibit and encourages women to create and express themselves. The pieces also contains hidden messages of positive vision. 

“Moss reminds me of immigrant women because we don’t have roots, and moss doesn’t have roots. So, we have to replant ourselves on the new soil basically.”

To learn more about the exhibit, visit https://shorturl.at/kFORZ.