Fraser Valley

Ananda Dhama is a contemporary artist living in the suburbs of Vancouver. Born in Moscow, she pays homage to the heritage of her homeland, particularly to such great artists as Polenov and Kuindzhi. As the fifth generation of a family of designers, she blends the techniques of old masters with modern technologies in her paintings.
Ananda's formal education began at the age of 10, refining her craft under the guidance of Elizaveta Zalegina at the Surikov Art Lyceum. Her conceptual thinking was shaped at the private Edas School under Vladislav Kirpichov. Additional lectures on art history at the Museum of Architecture by Nadezhda Smolina fuelled her interest in analyzing the past and present, instilling a special affinity for the traditions of ancient cultures. Notably, her biographical lineage starts with a Jewish engraver, after whom successive generations have been involved in the art of contemporary design.
The principles of working with space through abstract thinking were shaped by architectural college and later the institute, where Yuri Safronov played a key role in her project activities. After completing her bachelor's degree, she continued her journey at a psycho-pedagogical university under Victoria Yurkevich's department. In her master's research, she explored the connection between imaginative and logical thinking in the development of creative activities.
However, for Ananda Dhama, an essential aspect of life is not only familial continuity but also spiritual. After visiting Cambodia at the age of 18, she developed a profound interest in Eastern practices, dreamed of embracing the boundless, and aspired to broad-mindedness. Currently, one of the most vibrant sources of inspiration for her is the work of the Japanese animator Makoto Shinkai, who has incorporated old-fashioned traditions into his works, igniting interest in cultural heritage for the modern generation.
Despite a conscious choice to follow a realistic style in painting, Ananda considers herself a conceptual artist. For her, the primary importance lies in the thought, while the style and genre serve the concept. Her goal is to achieve such a level of minimalism in her practice that visually conforms to the laws of material perception but mentally transcends them.