Trevisan International Art presents the 16th edition of the international small format exhibition
Anastasiia Lodde is pleased to participate as an artist in the 16th edition of Little Treasures, presented by Trevisan International Art. The exhibition will take place from November 25 to December 6, 2023, at Galleria De Marchi in Bologna, Italy, and brings together artists from different countries in a shared space of cultural exchange.
Little Treasures, curated by Paola Trevisan, focuses on small-format artworks (20 × 20 cm), offering artists the opportunity to express complex ideas within a compact scale. The exhibition presents a diverse and international view of contemporary art, where intimacy of format meets conceptual strength.
At this edition, Anastasiia Lodde presents a new series titled
“Journey to Joy.”
This series is not simply about happiness.
It is about searching for oneself through the experience of migration.
Migration often places a person in a state of uncertainty. Familiar structures disappear, new ones are not yet formed, and everyday life can feel like navigating strong winds and waves. In this ongoing movement, challenges must be faced and overcome, much like trying to stay balanced during a storm at sea.
“Journey to Joy” reflects this inner process. The series speaks about loss of orientation, adaptation, and the gradual rebuilding of identity in a new cultural environment. Each artwork represents a chapter in this journey.
Let's dive into the details of each artwork:
“Windows”
This is the starting point of the story.
A young girl is surrounded by silhouettes of windows and houses - symbols of opportunities that exist nearby but remain out of reach. She feels lost, isolated, and overwhelmed, a common emotional state experienced in migration.
In her hands, she holds a ribbon decorated with flags, representing borders, countries, and the paths already taken or still ahead. This ribbon connects the entire series.
“The Flow”
In the second artwork, the girl rides a bicycle along a road that resembles the sea. The sea becomes a metaphor for migration - unstable, unpredictable, and sometimes frightening. The colourful houses around her symbolise new systems, cultures, and expectations she must learn to navigate.
Although she still feels uncertain, movement itself becomes a form of resilience. The ribbon continues, reminding us that the journey is ongoing.
“Vitality”
In the third piece, a fish appears alongside the girl. The fish symbolizes personal values — the “little treasures” a person carries within, even when everything else changes. These values are not universal; they are shaped by culture, history, and personal experience.
In migration, reconnecting with one’s values becomes essential. The girl and the fish hold a section of the ribbon together, highlighting the relationship between values, direction, and inner strength.
“Sanctuary”
The final artwork represents a moment of inner safety rather than an end.
Inside a bicycle wheel, a miniature city appears. The girl sits within it, holding the fish. This space symbolizes a sense of belonging that is built internally, not externally.
The ribbon of flags remains in her hand, no longer pulling her forward, but existing as part of her story. Happiness here is not a destination, but a state of alignment with oneself.
“Journey to Joy” is a visual reflection on migration as a continuous process, one that requires resilience, self-awareness, and the courage to find stability within, even when the surrounding world feels uncertain.
