The exhibition VIVA! (meaning both alive and hurray in Italian) is an ode to life. Heavily influenced by Pop Art and Fashion, the work of Russian-born, internationally-raised artist Katia Mossina is a celebration of carefree “joie de vivre.” Katia’s art unquestionably mirrors her sunny personality.

Classically trained as a fashion designer and architect, the numerous rules in those realms couldn’t contain her explosive temperament, leading her to turn to art. There, her elegantly drawn silhouettes, still imbued with a fashion flavor, broke free from the constrictive clothing of fashion—just as their creator liberated herself from constrictive bonds. They appeared reborn and liberated by nakedness, discovering their true essence.

Like nymphs and muses of ancient times, Katia’s characters live in harmony with their naturalness, completely at ease with their lack of complexity. They revel in life in a way we rarely can, trapped as we are in our own complexity. This prompts the viewer to reflect on the joyful effect of simplicity. Simple is great, and lightness achieved through honest recognition and the shedding of redundant complications, societal pressures, or political circumstances is one of the best ultimate goals of well-being, as any psychology or spiritual expert would testify. Be cautious, we are not advocating for abandoning earthly goods or needs; quite the contrary! Katia’s Nymphs are absolutely comfortable with their human desires, at ease with their own decadent attitude. 

Kata Mossina’s wellspring of imagination is the liberated woman, unafraid to be VIVA!, an exemplar of feminine resilience, which the artist teaches us can also be sensual and joyful. Her liberated woman is sometimes accompanied by a liberated man, prompting the question of who liberated whom first, followed by the realization that it doesn’t matter, as emancipation is fortunately contagious. Their simplicity hinges on liberating themselves from the weight of caring about others’ opinions and judgment. Sensuality is revealed in this ease and coziness, breaking through preconceptions of propriety, imposed aesthetic parameters, and cultural restrictions.

Sensuality is once again found in another characteristic of Katia Mossina: her full, flashy red lips, which have become in a way her business card. The exhibition included installations of photos of Katia’s lips not only to remind us of the first expression of lightness and joy—the smile—but also because her use/abuse of red lipstick refers to the role of lips and mouth in Pop Art, especially to Andy Warhol, for whom the mouth was one of the central themes of his work. A pair of lips can convey a lot about current emotions; they emphasize the expression of a person’s face. And when color is added to them, something particularly amazing happens: they turn into a metaphor of power and seduction.

Katia Mossina’s body of work depicts the slippery nature of a dream, allegorizing the naturalness of desire, freedom of the mind, as well as erotic and sexual arousal. 

Katia’s strokes are accurate and well-thought-out, remaining expressive and dynamic, with light and fresh colors. As a reflection of emotions flying by quickly, they leave behind only a lively imprint. Katia Mossina encourages us to look inside ourselves, not around us, to shed our metaphorical and physical clothes, accept ourselves as we are, accept the world as it is, and through this, find freedom, energy, and, above all, joy—VIVA!