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Kadyrova Zhanna
In the work “Diamond,” Zhanna Kadyrova mimics the form of a precious gemstone but crafts it from tile, cement, and mounting foam — materials frequently used in her artistic practice.
Humanity has bestowed immense significance upon the diamond, elevating it to the highest “totemic” status in the world of luxury, fueling the pursuit of it by seekers — both gemstone hunters and elites of past centuries.
Through this, the artist highlights the contrast between the material’s intrinsic value, its appearance, and its acquired worth. Yet, at its core, a diamond is merely a stone — one that requires processing, human imagination, and craftsmanship to transform it into an object of desire and assign it weight in the contemporary world.
Stepping out of the shadow of imposed context, this “Diamond” does not exist as a symbol of wealth but rather as a question to the viewer: What is truly valuable?
Zhanna is a sculptor and artist who works in the style of site-specific art, making objects, installations, mosaics, and sculptures. One of her key subjects in her art is urbanization, which is concerned with the transformation of the city’s look. Among Ukrainian critics, Kadyrova was one of the first to experiment with public urban space. According to the artist, this allows continual interaction with the city via research. Her designs are frequently fundamentally dependent on the external world, which includes both physical space and social context.
