Interview: Maria Golubkova
Luca Curci talks with Maria Golubkova during THE BODY LANGUAGE 2020 at Palazzo Ca’ Zanardi.

Maria Golubkova was born in Moscow in 1991 on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

“Art is an exploration, but woodcarving is a calling”. The focus of my work and my creative process revolves around experimenting with different materials, styles, colors and forms. I feel that my purpose is to bring ideas from the realm of my imagination into the real world by carving, sculpting, painting and drawing them. The technique that I use has allowed me to develop my own unique style. My work often connects with the emotional-perceptive sphere. In studying the intricate details of every subject, I try to dig down to their essence, and I often connect with them in new and sometimes surprising ways.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Maria Golubkova – My profession and the way I live my life, literally! I can’t imagine having more than two/three days without creating something new or practising woodcarving or reading about art history. Every time I go to a new place or country, I am first of all interested in the art scene that they have there. Street art, bookshops with rare and old photos, art museums and galleries – I explore new cultures first by learning about their art. I also feel that a new place becomes more familiar and close to me when I can paint en-Plein-air and do sketches of what I see around me.

LC – What are you currently working on?
MG – Now I’m working on designing and creating carved decorative wooden boards, 20% of the sales of which go to charities in Russia and abroad. I think it’s a good way to interact with society and act in response to the things that are happening in our lives. For a lot of people, having art or creating art is a healing process, so I want to give back to society and help solve some problems through Russian-style woodcarving and other art. I’m also continuing to experiment with epoxy and wood, so I’m in the process of working with flower motifs as well as some mini sculptures. I would rather just show it to you all when it’s done!

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
MG – Of course, a large part of my inspiration comes from nature. As a woodcarver, I use a lot of floral and animal motifs. For my other visual art, I also find inspiration in nature, but also in human society, travelling and engaging with other cultures. I get inspired by learning from other artists; learning their techniques and tips too, even though I could never repeat them! I use all the knowledge I acquire in my own way. I have so many ideas of what to carve and create that, for the foreseeable future, I’m not worried about new ideas and inspiration. I think for an artist, inspiration is everywhere: you just need to listen to yourself more carefully to understand what is really inspiring to you and what you are interested in working with and on.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
MG – I think it’s time and usage of materials. Any type of woodworking is time-consuming, and any experimentation is dangerous, as you may end up using (wasting) more material than needed.

LC – Which art themes do you pursue? What is your preferred subject, if there is any?
MG – For right now I’m more interested in nature’s beauty and reflection on human society in general.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the festival or as a part of preexisting works?
MG – Thank you for your interest! These two artworks were preexisting pieces.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
MG – I was very interested in “The body language” because the way we see our bodies and others, the way we accept ourselves is very important and challenging. I think that artists have a magical power and special role to play in showing through art that the body itself can be transformed and can be seen from absolutely different angles.

LC – What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP?
MG – I think it’s a good platform for emerging artists and an opportunity to participate in international exhibitions.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
MG – Yes, I did. It was quite an interesting and useful collaboration experience!