Anna Yakusheva
Life as a project. Art as the doorway.
Path to inner freedom
On this page I present a series of works for a personal autobiographical exhibition, which is one of the parts of my author's universe of the big project called “Life as a Project”. In the works of this exhibition my “Path to Inner Freedom” and acceptance of my own power of the Creator is archived with artistic meanings and my own universal symbols. By walking the “Hero's Path” through finding answers to my questions - diving deep into myself, accepting and allowing all my parts to be, through reconnecting with my soul's needs and realizing my inner responsibility, by finding my inner points of support, I empower the viewer to find their own answers to their own inner freedom through my example. For my visual language, I use the incredibly versatile watercolor illustration. By supplementing the work with words and magazine clippings, I aim to convey certain messages and stitched “clues” to the viewer for their inner transformation. Using recognizable images as alternate meanings for each of the viewers, onto which each projects their own experiences and their own elements, symbols, signs, charting their unique life path. Each person and their destiny can be viewed as long as the retina of the eye, which never repeats itself. Through my work I show not only my deep transformational journey, but also the journey of finding my style in self-expression. I invite you into my inner world!
Triptych "Ego integration", 2024
Watercolour, collage, mirror
28 × 28 each
Description and history of exhibitions When you make the decision to free yourself from the external and discover the depth of your inner world, you start climbing the ladder of life, on the way of which you pass different stages of your own cognition. The path is not easy, sometimes painful, tempting, deceptive and confusing. Not everyone dares to take this risk. Not everyone dares to meet his or her real self. But the one who dares to reconcile mind and heart will already be beyond all systems. Only after having gathered courage and stepped into the amazing journey towards oneself, ego-integration and growth of personal power is possible. And at the end of each stage, a new chapter opens and you start all over again. But this way is not like anything that was before. In each chapter the main character is YOU!
And you are you?, 2023
Watercolour, ink
37 × 44
Description and history of exhibitions Through this work, my aim is to emphasise the significance of resisting the lure of ego and the mind's projections, breaking free from dependence on external opinions, societal norms, illusions, and the artificial constructs of our world. It serves as a reminder of the importance of detaching actions from emotional biases, disregarding external critics and internal attitudes, and acting authentically, rather than succumbing to self-deception and betrayal in pursuit of acceptance and validation. It sheds light on the illusory nature of our comfort zones and the ways in which we betray ourselves by comparing our lives to others. February 2025 - Existential group art exhibition "Exi", Crypt Gallery, London July 2024 - "Creative vision", Worldwide 3D Virtual Expo with Times Square broadcasting, Arteom Gallery, Italy June-August 2024 - "Eyes 2024", Group International exhibition by Exhibizone, Canada May 2024 - Visual group art exhibition "Soulstone", Luna Grande Art Gallery, İstanbul, Turkiye
The birth of a new consciousness, 2024
Watercolour, magazine clippings
40 × 40 cm
Description and history of exhibitions In this piece, the Earth, gently held by human hands, becomes a metaphor for a new ethical and spiritual awakening. The work speaks to themes of care, interconnectedness, and shared life on the planet, where art is not merely a reflection, but a living tool for dialogue. Through a combination of watercolour and collage, the artist explores the possibilities of visual language as a mediator in understanding global challenges, from environmental to cultural, reminding us that the birth of a new consciousness begins with empathy. Art here not only reflects the world, but also shapes it - connecting the disparate, awakening responsibility and hope. Exhibitions history June 2025 - "Echoes of Us", an international group art show, Cistaarts, UK
Ego, 2024
Watercolour, mirror, magazine clippings
75 × 56
Description and history of exhibitions To know the truth is to know oneself, to know sincerity. Sincerity is a simple and at the same time complex human quality. Simple - because this feature is inherent in us from birth. But being an adult, climbing the ladder of life, we learn about the opposite of this quality. When our ego takes over. When we begin to succumb to outside influences, forget about our real selves, imitate and try on ourselves imposed social canons. And at this moment, in the pursuit of illusory happiness, the worst thing happens - we stop hearing our heart. We stop being sincere. And at that moment we lose touch not only with ourselves. Sincerity is like a bridge that lies between our heart and mind. It is our balance that we strive to realise in life. Our existence is cyclical and harmonious, and we are not accidental in it. But we have a choice to be in harmony or not. And the key to choosing the former is to be sincere and to follow our sincere desires - that is, desires that come from the depths of our being, not the whims of the ego that we are used to fooling ourselves with. Sincere desires cannot be rejected by the world or by other people. Simply because they are real, and therefore natural and in harmony with all things. Exhibitions history February 2025 - Existential group art exhibition "Exi", Crypt Gallery, London September 2024 - "Unlocked Identities" group art exhibition, Perseus Gallery, New York, USA July 2024 - "Creative vision", Worldwide 3D Virtual Expo with Times Square broadcasting, Arteom Gallery, Italy
Choice, 2023
Watercolour, collage
37 × 47
Description and history of exhibitions A child is born with a total sense of love and trust. He is pure and innocent from birth. And only an adult begins to destroy this trust in him. And at this point in our lives, we begin to make our first choices. Everything that is considered imposed on us from the outside is only that we ourselves have made a CHOICE in accepting it in relation to ourselves. We have chosen to accept. But no matter where we are or what happens to us, there is always a ray of hope with us. A ray of hope that can lead us out of any darkness.