MARIYA VASILYEVA
Mariya Vasilyeva (*1993, Kiev) is a German-Ukrainian video and performance artist who lives and works in Vienna. With a background in fine art from the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Vasilyeva has developed an artistic practice that focuses on performances, digital collages and video installations. By staging herself in various roles and scenarios, Vasilyeva explores themes such as feminism, sexualized violence and body politics in her work, mechanisms of power represented in public and private spheres of society.
An important aspect of her artistic practice is that all works are created by Vasilyeva herself. In all video and performance pieces, the artist acts as the sole actor, films herself and creates costumes and art objects for the productions.
Her experience as a Ukrainian immigrant in Western Europe has strongly influenced Vasilyeva's art and prompted her to question patterns of identity, especially as a woman. A recurring element is the focus on her own body and its vulnerability. Through digital manipulation, she transforms herself into an object that symbolizes social abuses of power. This approach allows Vasilyeva to reflect on social power structures, in particular how sexuality, religion and ethical norms shape female identity.
