Interview with Janice Alamanou
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the arts? and your first experience in art making?
Hello, my name is Janice Alamanou. I am an international art photographer, now including mixed media, from Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, UK. All of my work is photographed and created by myself, no filters or images from the internet, making each piece individual and unique to my art. I started photographing at a very early age with a small film camera that needed winding on after each image, with images depicting the area I live in. By adulthood photography had become a passion and I went on to specialise in landscape and portraiture, both home and abroad, also having lived a while on the island of Corfu in Greece. Amalgamations of both landscape and portraiture seemed the natural step from there. My photography evolves into different techniques and styles, as I explain - I am a woman and there is no one way. I opened my own Gallery nearly four years ago and exhibit in several countries. My first experience of art making is hard to explain, only to say that as a passion, self taught from a child, it has always been a necessity to do.
How would you describe yourself and your artwork?
I would say I am positively inquisitive of life, meaning and understanding, which leads to questioning, reason and debate. The understanding of my questioning then reflects in my artwork - a mixture of actual and perception, hopefully seeing the beauty even if the image has a hint of sadness. I never create an artwork to sell, it is something inside that has to come out. 100% personal.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Inspiration comes from the world around me, the people I meet and experiences I have. I would love to eloquently describe my inspirations but when it comes to creating an artwork it is pure instinct - gut feeling that simply manifests as a 'ping' in my mind.
What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?
With my art I hope that people will see beauty with a meaning. Some of my images have a slight complexity to them, simplicity with detail, but each and every one was created with meaning behind. I want the viewer to look and look again, to feel, debate and discover - to love it and to be intrigued.
When do you know that an artwork is finished ?
I tend to create a new piece and then leave it for a few days before going back to it. I may hang it up where I can see it and if when I return to it I still love it, it is finished.
What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?
I have exhibited in a few countries so far and won a few awards but without a doubt the most exciting is here and now with becoming a Finalist at the Global Art Awards in Dubai. To visit Dubai and have the ceremony in such elegant surroundings, the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa - fantastic!
How long does it take to produce one work?
This varies. Once I have an idea it can take time to photograph the images. Landscapes and seascapes are dictated by weather and light, if I do not have photographs which I wish to use it can take months, especially as my landscapes are true scenes - I choose not to alter skies or add reflections etc., mountain images are taken from the mountain, not aerial and I have to get there. Otherwise editing is hours to over a few days going back and forth to it, depending on what is necessary to achieve the finished artwork. If I do not find the right images I will not release it.
What exciting projects are you working on right now? Can you share some of the future plans for your artworks?
Now I am working on becoming a specialist in 'Photography with Precious Metals'. With my entry 'Gold Leaf' into the Global Art Awards, I created, what I believe, to be the first Photograph with 24 carat Gold Gilding. I researched and could not find anything else anywhere, so tried to Patent it but unfortunately Artworks cannot be patented. Since this I have researched into different precious metals which I then hand gild onto my photography. I will be slowly releasing new work in the months to come.
Do you have any upcoming events or exhibitions we should know about?
Exhibitions
2018 - Artifact Gallery, New York, USA, 7th - 25th June 2018, SOLO Exhibition by Janice Alamanou
2018 - Explosion of the VISIONS, Mamag Modern Art Museum, Castle Hubertendorf, Austria, 21st February - 20th September 2018
2017 - Diversity exhibition, Yukyung Art Museum, Geoje, South Korea. 1st - 30th December 2017. Inclusion in the museum's permanent collection.
2017 - Le vie dell'arte, Galleria d'Arte Mentana, Firenze, Italy. 28th October - 16th November 2017.
2017 - MUSA 'We Contemporary’ 10 Art Must Haves, 26/27/28 October, Palazzo Velli Expo - video exhibition in Kiev will be 2 November 2017 at Art Ego Culture Centre, Spivakovska.
I will be releasing two hard-back books in 2018 with a publisher, the first between March & May, the second in July.
Where do you see your art going in five years?
I create my artwork as my life leads. I have no plan as always the best plans go awry. All I know is that I continue to strive for the best that I can ever create. I am lead by influences around me, circumstance and passion. In five years or fifteen years time all I wish for is to leave behind something wonderful.
