Rada Yakova
Land scape
CONTEMPORARY ART REVIEW
How does representation and a tendency towards abstraction find their balance in your work?
Thank you for this question. A lot of people can not accept figurative painting as an abstraction. Abstraction is something unreal and everything that leads us to dream and imagine has something abstract in it. So in my work, the idea is abstract, I use the woman ' s body to show my ideas that are far more beyond what you see.
Over the years you have exhibited in several occasions, including your recent participation to the Barcelona International Art Fair: one of the hallmarks of your work is the capability to create direct involvement with the viewers, who are urged to evolve from a condition of mere spectatorship. So before leaving this conversation we would like to pose a question about the nature of the relationship of your art with your audience. Do you consider the issue of audience reception as being a crucial component of your decisionmaking process, in terms of what type of language is used in a particular context?
Not really... I believe one can only be free if released from any tought, from anyone or anybody else‘ s stories and expectations. That’ s why sometimes I need a lot of time before beginning, just to stay in front of the canvas. It‘ s like taking a shower, washing your brain from all expectations. You can not satisfy everybody. Not everybody will like you, and that’ s OK. If everybody likes you, something is wrong.
Thanks a lot for your time and for sharing your thoughts, Rada. Finally, would you like to tell us readers something about your future projects? How do you see your work evolving?
My newest work is about memories and letting them go. It has more the esthetic of an old photography, where the details are not important. Important is the emotion, the feeling, the story that you remember. With my new work I will invite the audience to remember … I will have the chance to present some of it at Florence biennale 2017
An interview by Katherine Williams, curator and Josh Ryder, curator landescape @ europe. com