When confined in the body - spirit rises, vision expands.  When defined by media parameters, long & narrow art defies constraints in order to create rhythm, bring unity, accentuate contrast, and seek new forms.  Every thought & decision is in the linework.  At times it longs to please the viewer, sometimes dares to anger them.  Exhibition "Meaningful Gestures" is informed and inspired by the many events of the global wars, blood shed, resistance of the civilized part of the world to the dangerous evil which showed us its terrible full face.  

In times like these, when we all struggle for air, making art is my oxygen.  It's the breathing medium in which to exist.  It's uncompromising & unapologetic.  Life throws curve-balls and poses questions which my art-making tries to address, without ever fully answering them.  It usually points me in a direction, gives a thread to follow...

In my work it is usually the urban landscape that is deconstructed, flattened and re-assembled.  Visual play of interlocking fields of limited-color palette, my vision of the world wants to be all-encompassing.  I like to look at the world globally yet deal with it specifically through figures & current issues.  Occasionally a human figure or multiple inhabit a given artwork.  My interest lies in perceiving our environment as a construct, where my re-invented landscape becomes a new reality.  Each piece is its own universe - a macro or a microcosm, it is reduced, calm, eerie & left alone.  Each piece, while in the process of creation, is a deep and slow process of contemplation.  It’s a slow cooker – no rush. 

Elvira Dayel was born & raised in Ukraine, former Soviet Union.  With her family she immigrated to the United States in the mid-1990’s, at the time of arrival the artist was 15 years old.  The Dayel family first came to Los Angeles.  In her education Elvira pursued a career  as an artist while initially obtaining two bachelor degrees: one in Fine Arts and another one in Biological Sciences from UCI; further Dayel received Master’s Degree in Architecture from UCLA School of Architecture and Urban Design.  In 2004 Elvira relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she currently lives, creates & works. 

For more, visit: www.elviradayel.art/