Tatiana Akhmetgalieva is a talented visual artist from Russia, who continually creates inspiring artwork. Her work consists of large-scale, mixed media pieces and her latest collaboration with Spanish artist, Albert Pinya, is set to be big news in 2014.
Tatiana spoke to Stuart Russell B.E.M in August 2013.
How long have you been pursuing art? All my life I have pursued art. I was never bored as a child because I always had art it was my favourite activity. I seriously decided to become an artist when I was 15 years old when I began my studies at Art College. In 2005 I entered the St Petersburg Academy of Art and Design, at the same time I started my art career and had my first exhibition.
What techniques do you use and why? My techniques are video, textiles, graphic, collage, and now also painting. I like to experiment and combine different techniques and materials. Everything depends on the idea. I enjoy using mixed media throughout my projects.
What is it about yarn that interests you? Thread – is a very deep symbol for me. It can be a life, a fate, relationships between people; the weaving of their feelings, thin connections or a time ‌ Everything is interwoven into a single fabric of reality.
How were you introduced to these techniques? I started to use textiles and threads in my works when studying at the St Petersburg Academy of Art and Design. Before this I made only graphics. I always say that all my work, regardless of the techniques used, are graphics. For me video can also be graphic, It has always attracted me. I dreamt of making my own films when I was a child.
Did any traditional artists ever inspire you as a youngster? Of course! I admire Pieter Bruegel, Giuseppe Arcimboldo and Jan Van Eyck. I really like graphics by Albrecht Dürer, engravings by Francisco Goya, sculptures by Marino Marini and Alberto Giacometti. I love the art of Joan Miró, Paul Klee, Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall and also early middle age sculpture and paintings.
What is it about yarn that interests you? Thread – is a very deep symbol for me. It can be a life, a fate, relationships between people; the weaving of their feelings, thin connections or a time … Everything is interwoven into a single fabric of reality.
For you, what is the best part of being a contemporary artist? I think the best part is absolute freedom. I think at this moment to be an artist is the biggest happiness. You can create your life, follow your dreams and be absolutely free from the emptiness of this world. This world is strange and full of political games; you can change something through art and create a new universe for yourself.
Is your work easy for others to interpret, or does it contain hidden or personal themes? I feel my work isn’t easy for others. It always contains very personal themes and often my deepest hidden secrets. Every work has a personal story inside. I always try to make very sincere work, what I feel, and it doesn’t matter how strange or scary it could seem to other people.
Does Russian culture ever inspire your art? Yes! I am often inspired by my life in Russia, the culture and nature. Most of my work is related to my childhood in Siberia, it’s a very special place for me and still inspires me today.
Any future exhibitions coming up? My latest project is an exhibition in collaboration with Spanish artist, Albert Pinya. The exhibition will open in Moscow. It’s the most important project for me just now. It’s very interesting to have a dialogue with an artist from another culture. Albert has a different way of life, living on the other side of the world, but we have such similarities too. Our duo creates a common language through art. We learn a lot of new information every day about each other. We are looking for the intersection of our realities in which lie absolute sincerity and boundless creativity. I think the exhibition will be an absolute turning point in terms of our creativity.
WWW.TANYAAKHMETGALIEVA.COM