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Oktober 2024

Artist Spotlight | Olha Orekhova

By /ART/, /BLOG/, /NEWS/
Spotlight on art photographer Olha Orekhova

Olha Orekhova Photographer, Stage Director, Creative Producer Olha Orekhova is a Berlin-based artist originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, known for her expertise in wet plate collodion photography—a meticulous 19th-century technique that brings a unique depth and historical quality to her work. With a diverse career spanning photography, stage direction, and creative production, Olha has led numerous high-profile projects across film, TV, and animation. Her work is characterized by a blend of technical proficiency and visionary storytelling, exploring themes of memory, identity, and the human condition. Olha holds a degree in directing from the Kyiv University of Culture and Arts and has continued her professional growth through advanced training in direction, dramaturgy, and production. I present to your attention my website where you can see my work, a description of the technology and the philosophy and meaning of my creativity. My artistic practice is rooted in exploring the complexities of memory and identity through wet plate collodion photography. This 19th-century technique, known for its rich textures and inherent imperfections, mirrors the way we experience and remember—fleeting, flawed, yet deeply personal. My work seeks to create emotional narratives that resonate with the viewer, capturing the fragile and often elusive nature of human experience. Through my art, I invite audiences to reflect on their own stories, exploring themes of introspection, existence, and the passage

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Copyright Olha Orekhova

Copyright Olha Orehkova

INTERVIEW WITH ARTIST | KSENIA SANDESKO

By /INTERVIEW, /NEWS/

Text by Irina Rusinovich

Interview with artist Ksenia Sandesko

Ksenia Sandesko, a Ukrainian-born artist making waves in the contemporary art scene, brings a unique perspective to exploring the complexities of human connection and isolation in our increasingly digital world. Her journey began in the Kharkiv Academy of Design and Arts, where she honed her skills in both graphic design and easel painting. Since moving to Moscow in 2020, Sandesko has immersed herself in the contemporary art world, participating in prestigious workshops and exhibiting her work at notable venues like BIS ART Gallery and NII SREDA. Her recent solo exhibition, „Physiology of Nature,“ even featured a collaboration with the ZVON dance-theater, seamlessly blending visual art and performance. In this interview, we dive deep into Ksenia’s artistic practice, exploring the inspirations behind her work, her evolving style, and her vision for the future of contemporary art.

 

Ksenia Sandesko

Hello Kseniya! Could you share a bit about yourself? Where are you from, and what has been your journey into the world of art?

 

It seems to me that I have always been in this world. In my childhood, I constantly drew, just like my mother, and dreamed of becoming an artist. And that’s how it turned out. I was born in Ukraine, attended an art school, and then enrolled in the Kharkiv Academy of Design and Arts. It was only after completing my studies that I began to think about what my art should be like.

 

Your work often blends figurative and abstract elements. What inspires you most when choosing your subject matter?

It turns out that in my earlier work (though it sounds strange to say, since it was only three years ago), there were many more abstract elements intertwined with bodies, forming a single whole. Now, I’ve noticed that the bodies are gradually becoming more self-sufficient, while the abstract background is becoming increasingly simplified. It’s interesting to observe this from the outside. The themes in my works often overlap; I’m mostly inspired by interesting poses, and then a composition is born around them.

Ksenia Sandesko

How has your artistic vision evolved over the years, and what key experiences shaped your current style?

I think the main change has occurred in the depiction of human figures. During my studies in academy, we often exaggerated and simplified bodies, which was influenced by the specifics of the academic school. Now, however, the figures in my paintings have become more honest and realistic. I no longer play with proportions or distort details, as I want to capture everything in its original form.

 

Can you tell us more about your creative process? How do you move from concept to the final piece?

In the past, to start working on a painting, all I needed was a simple pencil sketch outlining the bodies, and I barely needed any live reference during the process. Now, first I need to understand what I want to depict and what the main emotion in the work should be. Then, I spend a long time developing the composition, searching for many references, taking photos, creating a collage on a tablet, and often editing it in a graphic editor (this is more relevant for paintings in negative). Only then do I transfer the sketch to the canvas.

Ksenia Sandesko

What message or feeling do you hope viewers take away when they see your artwork?

For a long time, I didn’t quite understand what I wanted to express, and it even seemed to me that I was creating my works mechanically, with no real message behind them. I also didn’t feel a strong connection between my work and myself. But then I realized that, unconsciously, I had been conveying my inner experiences through my art, and it was a way to express my emotions through the images on the canvas. It’s no coincidence that the main figures in my paintings are people—naked, unprotected, vulnerable. Once, my psychologist suggested that I depict what my inner self would look like on a piece of paper. At that moment, I realized that I had been portraying it in my paintings for years. The people in them appear free, sensitive, merging into one. That is exactly what I was trying to convey—how important it is to know and feel oneself, how vital human connection is, and how essential a person’s inner life is.

How does your environment, whether it’s your city or the places you visit, influence your work?

I think this influence is minimal, as I rarely go out and I’m often lost in my own fantasies, which partially helps me in my art. My paintings seem to be in contrast with the real world; they are full of color, imagination, and freedom. Though, perhaps, this is where the influence of my environment is revealed.

What has been the most challenging project you’ve worked on, and how did you overcome those challenges?

Sometimes small works can cause a lot of difficulties, while large-scale paintings come together quickly and easily. Often, I don’t know how the process will unfold, and I end up reworking a painting almost entirely, like changing the background halfway through or completely altering the color palette. So, it’s quite difficult for me to choose the most challenging project, as there are many.

Ksenia Sandesko

What advice would you give to emerging artists trying to find their voice in the art world?

 

I would recommend paying attention to your natural traits and abilities and developing them to the fullest. It’s often difficult for emerging artists to find their own style, and they initially try to imitate other artists and experiment with different approaches. This is a normal process, and what’s important in it is, first, to notice what exactly attracts you to certain artists, and then to see what is inherent to you as well, and try to preserve and enrich that. As for themes and concepts, artists often create their works intuitively in the beginning and struggle to articulate the main idea. But often, that idea is already deeply embedded inside, and it just needs to be brought to the surface.

PARALLEL REALITIES | Group Exhibition by HAZEGALLERY artists

By /ART/, /NEWS/
‘TELO’ Readings & Exhibition by Viktor Jerofejew and Genia Chef

PARALLEL REALITIES | Group Exhibition by HAZEGALLERY artists

Opening Reception: October 23rd, 2023

Exhibition Dates: October 23rd – 30th, 2023

Curated: Irina Rusinovich

Location: Reuterstrassse 62, 12047 Berlin, Deutschland

The group exhibition “Parallel Realities” offers viewers an immersive experience of a world of diverse artistic practices presented by Haze Gallery artists. While each artist works with a unique aesthetic and technique, they all explore similar themes: perception of reality, human interaction with the world around us, and deep inner feelings.

Discover the works of:

Milada Kopelovich

Ksenia Sandesko

Emilia Jechna

Rachele Frison

Denis Komarov

Julia Shanayza

Yulia Ani

Mako Lomadze

Join us for the opening reception on October 23rd, 2023, where you can meet the artists and immerse yourself in their unique worlds.  The exhibition will remain open until October 30th.

For interviews or any queries please write contact { @ } haze.gallery