Albasty by Alina Khozhan
Explore Mondoir Studio
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 60 x 60 cm
Year: 2025
Price: $3500.00 USD
Status: available
This painting addresses the topic of domestic violence. It was created under the influence of terrifying statistics about domestic violence against pregnant women and their tragic mortality rates. Shockingly, the cause of death is most often their own partner. Through the ancient myth of Albasty — a demon who steals the souls of children and pregnant women — I sought to reflect this issue. The scene is enveloped in the darkness of a cave, the dwelling place of Albasty, which creates an atmosphere of inevitable doom. Within the shadows, the souls of children can be seen crying out, embodying the horror and despair of this fate. Every element of the background was intentionally depicted as dark and oppressive, amplifying the feeling that there is no escape. The pregnant woman, however, is placed a little further from the viewer, standing just outside the cave in a bright landscape with a waterfall. She enjoys the moment, unaware of the danger behind her. We, as viewers, clearly see the looming threat, yet we are powerless to warn or protect her.
Why collect this work?
Albasty divides its square field between a bright exterior and an enclosing cavern, making knowledge of danger the painting’s central burden.
- Khozhan states that she addresses social issues through emotionally charged figures. Here, she uses the child-stealing demon Albasty to frame her concern with violence against pregnant women.
- In the photograph, a distant figure faces the waterfall while a crouching woman and clustered, open-mouthed faces occupy the cave. Their unequal scale gives the concealed threat visual priority.
- The documented acrylic on canvas permits sharp shifts from pale falling water to dense earthen forms. Repeated facial highlights remain legible within the dark setting, intensifying the sense of surveillance.
- The painting is significant for how it redirects a mythic monster toward domestic violence. Its divided viewpoint positions spectators with the hidden threat, testing the ethical difference between seeing harm and preventing it.
About the Artist
Alina Khozhan
Alina Khozhan is an artist on Mondoir Studio. Artistic discipline: painting. Based in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Nationality: Kazakh
I explores social issues and the emotional depth of human experience through my artworks.
