Just an Illusion, 2017

Inga Makarova  

Just an Illusion by Inga Makarova is an emotionally charged exploration of female embodiment, sensuality, and vulnerability, rendered in striking oil on Plexiglas. At first glance, the expressive bodies appear to swirl in a dreamlike state, suspended in a sea of flowing maroons and violet-browns. But a closer inspection reveals a provocative interplay between intimacy and abstraction, vulnerability and strength. Makarova draws from influences such as Egon Schiele, yet reinterprets them through a distinctly modern lens – creating a work that is both haunting and powerfully present.

The use of Plexiglas introduces a unique materiality to the painting, allowing ambient light and wall texture to subtly interact with the composition. Some sections are intentionally left transparent, encouraging a dialogue between the viewer and the physical space the work inhabits. The exaggerated anatomy, expressive brushwork, and deliberate distortions challenge traditional beauty standards while emphasizing emotional truth over physical realism.

Through Just an Illusion, Makarova gives form to the contradictions of feminine experience – sensuality and exposure, strength and fragility—all within a visually arresting, contemporary aesthetic.