By Quinda Verheul
170 x 120 cm, 2024
Concrete mixture on blue mirror

From the series Celestial Mountains

Inspired by her journey to Kyrgyzstan, and her experience of the enigmatic landscapes, Quinda Verheul unveils a poetic odyssey through Kok-Ayryk; named after the 3883 metres mountain pass in the Tian Shan mountains. Memories of day and night are combined in pink and blue mirrors, with the concrete lines becoming silhouettes of the mountainous terrain, forming a ballet of reflections that can only be experienced when viewing the work in real life. Concrete edges embody the struggle against the mountain's stoic surface, a testament to the complexities of nature, and the challenging journey in the thin air.

Kok-Ayryk embodies her journey through the mountains; a crisp road tracing a wild river, where clouds converge and drizzle adorns reflections. Landslides and the endless stream of rocks that cover the path form fascinating landscapes, with red and pink stones taking centre stage. As the series unfolds, clouds part, revealing a cerulean sky. The mirrors turn into a mountainous backdrop, capturing the red mountains and glaciers. As the sun sets, the sky darkens, captured in the deep blue of night.