In the rugged landscapes of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Uzbek artist Gulnur Arkin has redefined artistic expression through her innovative stone paintings. For over a decade, she's perfected a technique that transforms ordinary riverbed stones into vibrant artworks, blending oil painting, sculpture, and traditional Central Asian handicrafts.
Arkin's annual autumn expeditions along mining-area riverbeds yield stones of varied hues and textures – raw materials she grinds into pigments. Her works showcase remarkable depth through layered mineral powders, capturing Xinjiang's natural beauty in striking geological detail. "The stones speak through their colors," Arkin says of her process that merges contemporary art with Uygur cultural heritage.
Art scholars note her technique's significance in preserving regional traditions while pushing material boundaries. The Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture-based artist has inspired a new generation of creators across Asia to explore sustainable, locally sourced mediums.
