Projects

The artistic practice of Karin Averkin is a rooted exploration of layers—as geological fact, historical process, and metaphor for identity. Her work posits that we, like the city itself, are constructed from countless strata of experiences, memory, and culture. The subject of her inquiry is the essence that resides beneath: the foundational core that persists through constant transformation.

 

This body of work, conceived during a residency in Mexico City, began as an exercise in sensory translation. An initial photographic immersion into the city's chromatic vibrancy and atmospheric energy gave way to a deeper discovery. Through visits to ancient sites and historical centers, the artist identified a powerful conceptual metaphor: the foundation. The architectural palimpsest of the city, where stones are reused and history seeps through cracks, became the formal and philosophical cornerstone of this series.

 

Employing photography, painting, and intricate collage, Karin Averkin constructs canvases of complex stratification. Each added layer—of image, texture, or paint—mirrors the accumulation of time. Yet, her technique is not one of mere concealment. By strategically revealing glimpses of lower strata, she invites the viewer to engage in an act of archaeological looking. The deliberate palette functions as a coded language: the grey of foundational stone, the green of resilient nature reclaiming its space, and the pink of enduring optimism and joy.

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link to some of the works created during the residency