Landscapes, 2026
Collages, 84.1cm × 118.9 cm
Three collages exploring architecture, cultural memory and her return to Uzbekistan after twenty years.
Combining images drawn from old books, magazines and archival material, Shaden brings Tashkent’s modernist architecture into dialogue with historic Islamic architecture, nature, people and crafts. Through fragmentation, juxtaposition and layering, she examines the coexistence of different architectural traditions and the complex relationship between personal memory and cultural heritage. The series reflects Shaden's renewed encounter with Uzbekistan, its architectural landscape and its layered histories.
The collages also mark the beginning of a broader investigation. Shaden intends to develop them into larger-scale works and future projects involving architecture and scenography, extending her research into spatial and installation-based practices.
Produced during CCA, Tashkent Residency, ACDF 2026
Interlacing the Unforgotten, 2023
Book of Collages
My collage practice centres on collecting, arranging, and layering fragments of paper to quickly visualise ideas and images. The books of collages that I keep as sketchbooks are often my first point of reference when developing new work, allowing me to experiment freely with composition, pattern, and form. Making patterns from torn pieces of paper is a deeply meditative process for me, one that encourages intuition and spontaneity.
Unlike painting, which requires time, patience, and multiple stages of development, paper collage offers a more immediate way of making images. I am drawn to the physical qualities of the materials: the ripped edges of paper, the contrast between different textures, and the speed at which glue dries. The process demands quick decisions and rough gestures, leaving little room for overthinking. This sense of urgency is something I value, as it allows the work to remain expressive and direct.
Pattern continues to play an important role within my collages, emerging through repetition, layering, and the arrangement of fragments into larger visual structures. The act of assembling disparate pieces into a cohesive image reflects my broader interest in construction, memory, and visual storytelling. Through collage, I can explore these ideas more instinctively and immediately.
The roughness and immediacy of collage bring me closer to expressionism, encouraging a focus on emotion, energy, and process rather than precision. By embracing imperfections, torn edges, and unexpected combinations, I create images that feel alive and responsive. My collage practice therefore acts both as a space for experimentation and as an important counterpart to my painting, offering a faster and more spontaneous approach to image-making.
Installation view: "Kazy Karta and Other Stories", Yemaa Art Space, Atyrau, KZ. 2023
Curated by Asel Akhmetjanova and Asel Mukasheva