Companions, 2026

Augustina Droze  

In “Companions", vibrant assembly of avian figures converges in a tight, rhythmic circle. These creatures act as symbolic narrators. They bridge the gap between Eastern and Western aesthetics. Each bird is adorned with intricate floral patterns reminiscent of fine porcelain. Bold reds, deep blues, and lush greens collide in a display of Rococo-inspired abundance. The composition feels immersive. It evokes a modern mythology where nature meets ornament. 
Delicate strings of pearls drape across the wings and necks. These jewels add a layer of tactile luxury to the scene. The background dissolves into a shimmering sea of pearls and soft light. This dreamlike landscape transforms a simple gathering into a bewitching encounter. The painting explores themes of connection and identity. It reflects a world that is simultaneously exotic and familiar. Every brushstroke emphasises a sense of harmony amidst contradiction. The gaze is drawn toward the center where the beaks nearly touch. This focal point anchors the swirling energy of the artwork. The piece concludes with a meticulous attention to the repetitive, pearlescent textures of the environment.

The contemporary artist Augustina Droze uses animals as symbols to describe her personal lived experiences. Her current body of work explores her life as a foreigner, her gaze upon the world as exotic, beautiful and bewildering. As an expat living in Beijing for the past ten years and currently in Barcelona, Droze's work incorporates elements of East and West. Her swirling, dream-like paintings are colourful and confrontational, brimming with Rococo inspired abundance. She creates her own modern mythology, a storybook land where she is the other in a very other worldly landscape. Droze has exhibited in galleries and museums internationally in numerous shows, notably the Castellani Art Museum, Niagara Falls, New York (2014), Banaras Hindu University as Fulbright Senior Scholar, Varanasi, India (2017), the Beijing US Embassy as Distinguished Art Envoy (2022), London Biennale (2023), Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (2024) and Carrousel du Louvre (2025).