Guzel ZakirovaQamchégül Qızlar (2023)

‘Qamchégül Qızlar’ brings four female figures together on a linen surface. Painted entirely in red, the figures are reduced to simple, abstract silhouettes, with enough contour to establish the female form without defining individual bodies. They stand close to one another, while their gazes move beyond the edges of the canvas. Slightly narrowed eyes give their expressions a sense of attention, curiosity, or quiet questioning. A small “qamchégül” flower is placed behind each woman’s ear. The practice is familiar within the Uyghur community to which Zakirova belongs, where flowers can be worn as everyday adornment by placing them behind the ear. “Qamchégül” refers to a small hanging flower that grows in clusters resembling a bunch of grapes. In the painting, the flowers carry a shared gesture through tradition, social life, and communal memory. The composition incorporates several elements that recur in Zakirova’s practice: the collective representation of women, the use of red, and details rooted in Uyghur traditions. Zakirova uses the figures’ shared forms and gestures to locate them within a common cultural experience.