Interview: Anastasia Lobkovski
Luca Curci talks with Anastasia Lobkovski during CONSCIOUSNESS, second appointment of the ANIMA MUNDI 2022 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello and Palazzo Bembo.

Anastasia Lobkovski is a visual artist and filmmaker based in Finland. She graduated with an MFA from The Finnish Academy of Fine Arts in 2013. Lobkovski has also a Master of Arts degree in 2017 from Aalto University, Filmmaking department. Lobkovski did her BA degree in 2007 at TAMK Art and Media, majoring in directing and light design.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Anastasia Lobkovski – It is something that helps me understand better the world around me, cope with hard times, process things that are difficult, express my thoughts and inner feelings and communicate them to the viewer. It is also a search for beauty and harmony.

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
AL – The base of my practice comes from art school studies. In filmmaking, my starting point is always the main idea of the script. Everything from actors to cinematography, editing, sound, colours and music should build around that, as strong as possible. They don’t need to be perfect, but it all should feel like they all fit together and that film breathes. In painting, I enjoy the freedom of expression. Colours and shapes are immediately visible. I don’t need to verbalise them and the process of making a painting is faster than making a film which takes usually 2-5 years to complete. So the painting is more spontaneous. I get interested in something, learn something new or experience something and can express it immediately in painting.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
AL – In nature and life. Sometimes also in natural science.

LC – How is your creative process?
AL – In painting most of the time, it is spontaneous. I just feel the need to paint and wait for a while, then start to think in colours and shapes and little by little painting takes shape. In some painting series, I might get interested in something and start to develop it. I’ve been painting a series about minerals that started like that. In filmmaking, the process usually takes a long time and it also depends on many other people, not only me. That’s why the process of making a film can be different each time.

LC – How do you choose your subjects? Is it reasoned or instinctive process?
AL – It is an intuitive process. It needs to be something that inspires, interests or bothers me. Sometimes I start to paint and only when the painting is ready do I understand what it is about and can name it.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the exhibition or as a part of preexisting works?
AL – The artwork presented at the exhibition is quite old work, but it fitted the theme of the exhibition. I’m happy that you selected it and showed it in Venice.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this exhibition? How did it inspire you?
AL – The concept of the exhibition that everything is connected in the natural world is beautiful and true. In times of ecological crisis, it is very important to remember and do what one can, trying to live as sustainably as possible. The concept of the exhibition also inspired me to paint more works on the theme of synopsis. In it, nature is expressed in the brash strokes that resemble the dance of the atoms. Small colourful parts we are all built of. I’m inspired by colours and shapes that are in some basic sense all the same in all of us, in everything in the natural world, yet they build each of us so unique.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID Group can represent an opportunity for artists?
AL – Yes, definitely. For an artist, it is so important that your works are shown to the audience, that people see what you do.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
AL – I think it is great. ITSLIQUID Platform has a wide audience, connecting different art scenes together. In today’s world where there is so much information, it is not easy to make one’s voice heard or ones artwork to be seen by the audience. ITSLIQUID is great as it has strong connections and beautiful galleries in major art-loving cities.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
AL – I would and actually I’ve already recommended it! I think the exhibition services are great. Also, communication is clear and efficient.