Kirjat Umarov is an artist I’ve covered several times in these pages, ever since I first encountered his paintings within the Annex of Nitroglobus Roof Gallery curated by Dido Haas, back in mid-2024. Given that first encounter with Kirjat’s abstract art was at Nitroglobus, it is only fitting that I return to the gallery for what will be her third exhibition hosted by Dido.
As I’ve notedin my past reviews, Kirjat is an abstract artist, often working with bold colours, but also in a manner wherein the white canvas itself itself is as much a part of the piece as the colours it carries. His work is often metaphysical in content and encompassing Christian theology and symbolism whilst also offering commentary on the political world as we experience it today.
Threading its way through all of this are elements of reflection and also a – for the most part – uplifting positivity which is hard to miss. All of this makes his paintings visually and emotionally engaging, and his exhibitions both exercises in marvellous use of colour and geometry, and prompts to get the grey matter between the ears working.
All of this is very evident within the exhibition at Nitroglobus, which formally opens at 12:00 noon SLT on Monday, October 12, 2026. In the Beginning was the Future – the title itself a play on the opening words of the Gospel according to St. John – presents a collection of images, some of which offer titles and reflections of Judeo-Christian mythology, others thoughts on tribal nativism, and still others on the trials of modern living.
Each piece has a story to tell – or perhaps I should say the beginnings of a story. This may come from the title of the piece, it may come through the presentation of the piece – or perhaps both. Some are thematically linked or paired (Crossing the Red Sea), others might offer thoughts on science and the wider mysteries of the cosmos (Wormhole). But all have within them the potential to set the mind tumbling through ideas and imaginings – and, perhaps – in some introspection and reflection.
Thus, like The Word, they are both created and creators, their voices many and varied, like the voices of Babel – but whilst they speak in many tongues to their audience as a whole, each speaks with a singular tongue and tale to each of us individually, whispering a story forged in the processes of our own thoughts and mood.
For myself, I found the flow of Christian symbolism engaging. I have no deep-seated belief in “God” – and certainly not the singular classical “God” of religion (which I regard as a human conceit) – but Kirjat has an ability to present Christian symbolism in what I can only describe as visual metaphor, ideas-in-images-and-titles which prompt thinking on matters beyond our general “everyday” views of life.
Then there his innate ability to lift the spirit through reference to the Nature in all its beauty – such as The Last Frontier, with is suggestion of a beckoning horizon lit by the glowing red of the Sun as it rises (or sets, depending on your preference), carrying with it the promise that however far we are in life, tomorrow will always bring something new.
In all, an engaging collection
SLurl Details
- Nitroglobus Roof Gallery (Sunshine Homestead, rated Moderate)
