Paula Turmina
Overview
Worlding, 2024
"Through partially fictional worlds, I explore notions of time, the earth, and celestial realms" - Paula Turmina
Focused primarily on painting, Paula Turmina’s practice extends to printmaking, analog filmmaking and writing. She explores the relationship between the self and the other - in particular the body and landscape, and the earth and celestial realms. Interested in the dialog between planetary thinking, soil research, and mythical stories, she investigates notions of time and storytelling informed by science-fiction.
In her paintings, Turmina presents a partially fictional world inhabited by hybridised characters who merge with their natural environments. Recurring protagonists in her pieces are the ‘sun worshippers’; a group of post-apocalyptic survivors who find solace in venerating the sun, despite becoming burned or blinded by its rays.
Her work demonstrates a concern for the depletion of natural resources, informed by the visible impact of centuries of commercial exploitation. In her paintings, we see manifestations of speculative futures that take account of the past and present, particularly contemporary political discourse surrounding climate change and the impact of colonial histories. Across her practice, Turmina exemplifies a respect for, and understanding of, the Earth as an organism, and champions positive symbiotic relationships with the complexity of life contained within it.
Biography
Paula Turmina (b.1991) lives and works in London. She completed an MA in Painting at the Slade School of Fine Art (2021), following a BA in Painting at Wimbledon College of Arts (2016).
She has presented solo exhibitions at galleries including: Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2023) and Sens Gallery, Hong Kong (2022). Her work was presented at Bienvenue Art Fair in Paris with Mama Projects (2022) and ArtRio in Rio de Janeiro by Casa da Escada Colorida (2020).
Her work has been included in group exhibitions with galleries internationally, including: Lamb Gallery, London (2023); Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2023); Berntson Bhattacharjee Gallery, London (2022); Kravitz Contemporary, London (2022); Vivian Caccuri Atelier, Brazil (2022); Saatchi Gallery, London (2020); TAM, Bulgaria (2019); Eve Leibe Gallery, London (2019); Fundación Cultural de Providencia, Santiago, Chile (2018) and Galeria Melissa, New York (2018) among others.
She has undertaken multiple residencies including: Las Vioskas, Dobrzyn, Poland (2022); Kupfer Project Space, London (2021); Casa da Escada Colorida Online Residency (2020 - 2021) and the Winsor & Newton Residency, The Fine Art Collective, London (2019).
Exhibitions
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