Interview with Alexandra Mekhanik
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the arts? and your first experience in art making?
My name is Alexandra Mekhanik. Born in October’78 in Moscow. Every generation of my father’s family had an artist and/or an architect, so happened to me, I became an Interior designer of architectural spaces. I’ve been drawing all my life but didn’t take it seriously. Then came my first experience in art making, when my clients couldn’t find a proper artwork for their interior, I had to make it by myself, and it was successful. The paradox of my career is I know nothing about my artistic family members as my parents divorced when I was three, have and never kept in touch since then. However, I go this way and can’t see another passion for me even if try to.
How would you describe yourself and your artwork?
Clearly readable minimalism and harmony in everything. Dignity is highly appreciated in my heart. About myself,.. open hearted, easygoing and understanding. My credo is “treat others as you want to be treated”.
My works are slightly unfinished to offer the space for the viewers’ imagination and fantasy.
As to photography, they are taken in a special way to show out the idea, to make the viewers appreciate even tiny details which we could hardly ever notice in our fast life. Color combinations are chosen to be so delicious to give a pleasure to the viewers looking at them longer and longer, discovering more interesting unusual details.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Night is the most inspiring time for me to create.
Talking about collecting the inspiring moments, I find them everywhere. And of course, I need to travel. Comparing cultural deference, learning all the time, looking, noticing beauty in unexpected places, in hardly visible details.
What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?
It is very important when people can “read” your art the way you want to represent it. Maybe some comments of the viewers will answer to this question better than me:
“....”
I’m enormously grateful with all my heart for each word of appreciation!
When do you know that an artwork is finished ?
For me it’s finished when the viewer gets the idea of the work. In minimalism we can hardly say if it’s enough or not. I would rather prefer to leave my work unfinished so that the viewers could enlarge their imagination in their own way according to their current mode and thoughts.
Speaking of conception of the work, I see that it’s finished when the combo of all the objects, colors and ideas are harmonized between each other, then I get the feeling that “the puzzle is done” and this is it, I just feel it.
What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?
Besides my very first opening night at the Brick Lane Gallery in London, which I will never forget, I have to admit that it was very exciting to receive in one week, day after day, invitations to exhibit and appreciation as awarding my works from the different corners of the world, it makes me believe in myself and move on further even when not able, improving my techniques and put higher goals.
How long does it take to produce one work?
Of course it depends on the size, material and technique I use. Sometimes a series of 5 really tiny works (10x10cm) with acrylic on canvas can take only one day. Also drawings on black background don’t takes a lot of time because the real art is an explosion of inspiration which was growing inside the artist soul.
Obviously a large size work takes about a week or two. ..Hesitating and lost of self confidence or inspiration are not included in this timing and if it happens it takes longer of course.
What exciting projects are you working on right now?
Can you share some of the future plans for your artworks?
One of the most exciting project for me now is Four Elements on canvas. It’s a kind of challenge for me, because I’ve never worked in this style. But astrology has always been an attractive subject for me, as well as the knowledge about zodiac signs, different associations around it. The moon power gives me a lot of inspiration and motivation to dare. Hopefully It will grow into an extraordinary project in collaboration with a great Astro scientist.
Do you have any upcoming events or exhibitions we should know about?
Answering these questions I’m sitting in the airplane (Moscow - New York) to participate in the Art Expo as Solo Foto.
My next destinations this year are:
May, 4th - Bologna Italy - International Prize Rafaello Awarding
May, 25th Tokyo Global Art Fair
June - London
July 7th - award of July Cesar in Rome. Continued by exhibition there.
October - Art Expo San Diego, USA
September - Important World Artist Book is coming up published with some of my works
December - Miami Spectrum, USA
November - Dubai Global Art Master Nomination
January’19 - Art Expo Las Vegas.
Where do you see your art going in five years?
Ideally it’s going to become a multifunctional capsular atelier for different art media such as painting, drawings, sculpture, photography, installations, furniture design, homeware and home wear. As far as, anyway, all this connected with printing, it would be great to organize a publishing/typographical space there for making coffee table art books, fine art photography books, as well as coffee tables themselves, which I have patented recently. I also see my own gallery where I would be happy to gather the works of the most interesting artists from all over the world, to organize Art Exhibitions, Art Fairs, and Charity Galas for those who appreciate art of any kind and see the depth of the artworks as well as their message to the world.
Website: http://alexandramekhanik.simpl.com
Email: amdecoration@yahoo.com
