Divide Magazine Issue 3 - Global Contemporary Art

39 NATALIA OSTAPENKO When did you first become interested in art?

I guess when I was in kindergarten when other kids and I were making flower paper cutouts for our parents.

How did you get to where you are today in your practice?

It was a long path that started from The Academy of Fine arts, in other words, an old classical art school, continued with impressionism, which gradually led me to geometrical abstracts.

What has been the most challenging aspect of your art career?

To transform all my knowledge of realistic visual form into non-objective art, to use the same principles of colour science, rhythm, composition but for abstracts.

Where do you find inspiration?

To be honest from simple yet essential things like nature, which I miss and appreciate even more in the world's current situation.

Which artist do you look up to? Any artists you're loving at the moment?

A few are Gabriel Dawe, Wang Ziling, Jan Kalab.

What's one thing people should know about you?

I love cycling, once I crossed Central Ukraine by bicycle and hope to do more tours in other countries too.