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Rina Kondakova is an artist working between Melbourne and Sydney. She approaches painting as a way to observe, deconstruct and remember, seeking to translate perception into tangible form.
Born in Yakutsk, Russia, Kondakova moved to Australia at the age of twelve. This significant shift in environment shaped a practice attentive to atmosphere, light and the tactile nature of memory. Working primarily in oil, her paintings hover between realism and dissolution — scenes that appear almost photographic from a distance, yet reveal her hand and the subtle rhythm of paint on closer viewing.
Alongside her studio practice, Kondakova has taught art through Melbourne Art Class and independently while completing a Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University. Her broader creative interests extend beyond painting into music, video and performance, reflecting an ongoing engagement with memory and sincerity in time-based forms.
Selected exhibitions
2025 – Neighbourhood, group exhibition, Deakin University, Melbourne
2024 – Trinkets, Babie Club pop-up, Popup Studio 813, Melbourne
2020 – liquids and non-liquids, group exhibition, VCASS, MelbourneAwards
National Gallery of Australia Summer Art Scholarship (2021)
Lester Youth Prize – Winner (2018)
ACMI Screen It – Finalist (2018) -
“I recently rediscovered painting as a way to connect with my inner world and the spaces I occupy. For me, it puts a pause on the fast paced, overstimulating rush of modern life. It also feels like when I paint scenes from my real, everyday life with reverence, those fleeting moments become memorialised.
“Cabramatta lunch explores the rituals of human connection. It's painted from my perspective to highlight not just the steaming pho but the intermingling chopsticks, spoons, and hands. Inspired by the universal act of documenting meals on social media, I translated this everyday ritual into oil paint. This process elevates the simple act of sharing food, portraying the meal as an anchor for memory and emotional connection. This painting is part of an ongoing series on embodied presence in everyday environments.”
Rina Kondakova, 2025.
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