By combining porcelain and concrete, this artistic duo achieves a harmony of opposites that is as symbolic as it is subtle. Reflecting a constantly evolving nature, it resonates with the human soul.
Sharing a similar worldview and a quest for an ideal and freedom of thought that have nourished their artistic practices, Yulia Batyrova and Marat Mukhametov chose to combine their talents in 2020 to further their aesthetic explorations. They found common ground in ceramics, experimenting with various clays and glazes before discovering their passion for porcelain, the starting point for their first artworks. "Its silky surface, translucency, and fragile delicacy were exactly what we were looking for.""They explain. Their bond took on a new dimension in 2021, thanks to their discovery of the forest, the only space of freedom in a confined world. A sensual and almost mystical experience, reducing the scale of time to that of a blade of grass growing and making us aware of our own vulnerability, this immersion was felt by the duo as a form of inner liberation, which they now seek to convey: "We have experienced the joy of dissolving into nature, which we strive to understand intuitively, through our imagination and our art." Rather than representing it for its own sake, they seek to evoke what it embodies and to illustrate the emotions it provokes, like so many elusive movements frozen in their sculptures: "Nature only shines through movement, air, and a light about to vanish. Not an object, but a trace of presence, of something that barely existed, and of which only the echo remains."
Textured in countless ways to take on an organic appearance, adopting irregular abstract forms that seem animated by a life of their own, porcelain lends itself admirably to this subtle interplay of reminiscences. Appearing to float weightlessly, the airy form rests in equilibrium on a concrete surface with which it both contrasts and interacts. This base is an integral part of the sculpture. It contributes to the impression of transformation emanating from the work: fragile and evanescent, the porcelain seems to be born and grow spontaneously like a plant, from the metaphorical anchoring of the concrete. The arrival of Russian artists in France, where they chose to settle in the countryside, not far from the forests conducive to their inspiration, coincided with a new surge of creativity. They thus incorporated new materials into their works, notably using textiles to give the porcelain a frosted appearance.
In early 2025, they continued their experimentation, thanks to their artist residency at the Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie Cultural Center in the Gard region, which hosts ceramic artists from around the world to encourage innovation and contemporary creation. Seeking a more "pictorial" effect and richer hues than those obtained by integrating pigments into clay—deemed too pale by the artists and unsuitable for their work—they found a way to make porcelain more absorbent to achieve their goal. With promising results, color is set to play a more significant role in their future creations. In the same context, they had ample opportunity to explore the potential of silicone, which "brings a new vitality and enhances the impression of fragility" to their fluid, unconstrained works. By allowing the material to express itself, the duo continues its quest for harmony, the guiding principle of their art at the crossroads of ceramics and sculpture. After exhibiting their latest works created during their residency at the 40the Following the Terralha edition – the European summer ceramics festival in Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie –, Yulia Batyrova and Marat Mukhametov are preparing for other international exhibitions, notably thanks to the support of the Mia Karlova gallery.
Represented by Mia Karlova Gallery
The Mia Karlova gallery will exhibit the works of Yulia Batyrova and Marat Mukhametov at its booth during the following fairs:
PAN Amsterdam
Amsterdam RAI
Hall 8, Europaplein, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
From 2/9 to 2025/XNUMX
The works of Yulia Batyrova and Marat Mukhametov are also featured in the following exhibitions:
63e Faenza Prize
MIC Faenza, Viale A. Baccarini, 19, Faenza (Italy)
Until November 30, 2025
17e Aveiro International Biennial of Artistic Ceramics
Aveiro/Santa Joana Museum
Avenida de Santa Joana, Aveiro (Portugal)
From 18 October 2025 to 18 January 2026
Never gonna snow again
Fungus Lunae
All that's left of color
