Oxana Arefin is a conceptual photographer and holds degrees in psychology and art; she is also a trained Rosen Method® Bodywork practitioner. Born in Moscow, she now lives and works in Wellington, New Zealand.
Oxana's life-long genuine interest in the nature and intricacies of human beings has defined her focus on exploring people and humanity through her art work. She aspires to communicate the multilayered nature of human beings - feelings, emotions, sensations, memories, illusions and paradoxes of perception. It is often a search for beauty in ordinariness and imperfection.
Oxana's photography is an inner journey where the viewer can meet with their resonating archetypes, non-conscious patterns and feelings.
Oxana experiments with different styles and techniques to create her photographic stories with multiple meanings and perceptual illusions. For her, creative work is a very special space that gives freedom to personal interpretations and helps the viewers discover new meanings and insights in themselves.
Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions including;
1993 – Solo exhibition "He Knows All" (graphics), Boulgakov Museum, Moscow, Russia
2007 – The project "Constants", International Photo biennale, Malta (Honours Commendation);
2007 – Group exhibition "4 Rooms", as part of an art-group "Us", Peschanaya gallery, Moscow, Russia
2007 – Group exhibition "Insomnia", Moscow, Russia
2008 – Group exhibition "Man and Woman", Moscow, Russia
2008 – The project "Constants", solo exhibition, Phoenix gallery, Moscow, Russia
2011 – "The Wheel of Non-return" series, group exhibition "The Life of a Bicycle", Peschanaya gallery, Moscow, Russia
2014 – The project "Love, Wind and Sand", group exhibition "Wind", Vykhino gallery, Moscow, Russia
2019 – The project "The King of Spring", Christchurch Art Show