Joy Kardish | Iryna Merkulova – Vernissage

Artist Joy Kardish explores the essence of stillness –the purest and most irreducible quality of the photo-image. Inspired by the enduring prints of early masters like Alfred Stieglitz, Kardish blends painstaking historic photography techniques such as cyanotype, with contemporary media to create works that seem to transcend the flow of time and cut through its ephemeral distractions.

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and currently based in Montreal, Iryna Merkulova is a visual artist whose creative journey finds inspiration in the intricate social processes of the modern world, especially within urban environments. Holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts (with Distinction) from Concordia University, Merkulova’s artistic exploration spans painting, drawing, and mixed media. She has participated in numerous exhibitions across Canada, receiving generous support from the Canada Council for the Arts and various cultural public organizations.