Kaila (Kai) Harunzade

Routines (2022)
Paper, metal wire 5’ x 1’

Routines represent the interpretation of the politics of the body in space and take place in the NYU Barney Arts Building in Manhattan, NY. The piece captures the loneliness encountered with routine and the voyeuristic qualities of how we observe people within space and time. Kai is drawn to the physical relationships between people and the parts of ourselves we choose to display. As the Barney Building is where Kai often resides, they wanted to portray how they feel connected to the space through the routines they share with the building. Through time and repeated tasks, Kai achieves comfort in my surroundings, which in hand combats isolation despite them being physically alone in these spaces. Kai’s routine relationship with the cold staircase, the bright pleasant windows, and the inviting corners of the environment all create a sense of comfort and ease where Kai unfolds with no effort.

Kalia Harunzade (she/her)

Kaila Harunzade is a multimedia artist currently studying fine arts at New York University. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she is pursuing a career in artistic fields and photography. With proficient adobe and design skills, she also follows her other interests in drawing, soft sculpture, metalwork, and carpentry. Through volunteer and nonprofit work Kaila has gained additional experience in psychological assessment and nonprofit management. Overall, she applies her strong interests in psychology and outreach work within personal artistic projects and developments.

Artist Statement

My practice is rooted in the different ways art helps us deconstruct and reimagine reality. The Dada movement and Surrealism have inspired me to challenge my imagination by manipulating everyday images. I am intrigued by Surrealist artists like Dali, who adapted psychology and Freudian theories as a means of uniting the conscious with the unconscious. Expressing the dynamism and complexities of our inner lives requires sensitivity to the many elements of memory, dreams, fears, and inner conflicts. I have been using my art to reveal those pieces of our deepest selves by diving into my subconscious and using unexpected distortions or juxtapositions of imagery.

I have always been drawn to gaining experiences both in art and psychology. Part of my work revolves around mental health disorders that manifest in adolescents as they search for independence and identity. When curating my work, I dive into researching how these topics affect young adults and took time to reflect on my own journey. Art is a way of conveying my perspective without the need to verbally communicate. Using creativity to comprehend the world has always been my escape and my language.