Interview: Natalie Sobo
Luca Curci talks with Natalie Sobo during THE BODY LANGUAGE 2022, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

Natalie was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she graduated from the St. Petersburg Stieglitz Academy of Art and Design in 1993. She has lived and worked in Toronto, Canada since 2001, graduating from the International Academy of Design and Technology, Toronto, in 2002. Natalie has continued to produce and exhibit her work throughout Toronto and internationally. Her artistic upbringing was defined by international travel, exposing herself to new cultures, and sharing her artwork around the world. Her works can be found in the St. Petersburg Museum of F. M. Dostoyevsky, the Private Museum of Modern Art in Heraklion, Greece, and in private collections in Germany, The Netherlands, Canada and USA. The artist is proud to be an Award Winner with the Society of Canadian Artists, Acrylic Painters USA, Vancouver Art Space, WA, Art Impact International, MD, Envision Arts, TX, and Northern California Arts, CA. Natalie is looking forward to expanding her art throughout the International Art Community.

Luca Curci – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
Natalie Sobo –  I graduated from the International Academy of Design and technology in Canada. My personal artistic upbringing was defined by my travels, which exposed me to new cultures.

LC – What are your thoughts while you paint? Do you have any habits or rituals while you work?
NS – I have no thoughts, just execute the image that already came to me in a flash most of the time. Listening to music also helps as I have an idea to connect painting to music and have already done a few projects in that direction.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
NS – Most challenging is to get that necessary amount of energy I need to paint, not every day I get it.. so I wait.

LC – How is your creative process?
NS – As I already mentioned, the images come to me as flashes most of the time, as a response to my living experience, to my thoughts or emotions, or to some events, or the environment. Most of the time they are already decided, so what I need to do is just to execute them. I don’t change them too much during painting, as there is no need to do it. It’s like I am in constant dialogue with my mind, something is constantly going on in the back of my mind, and as a result, I receive the image flashes.

LC – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme? 
NS – There is no specific theme, but it looks like I continue to explore the mystery of female nature, beauty and happiness, especially during this weird time.

LC – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this event? How is it connected to the theme of the entire exhibition?
NS – We are entitled to be humans, we are entitled to feelings, to love and to be loved. It looks like some unknown power wants us to forget about it. My painting has a tough look and body language. The girl is waiting for love.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the exhibition?
NS – I just started to collaborate with you guys, so far so good, I like the quality of the show and it’s very good to be in good company. looks like the show was prepared very thoughtfully.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
NS – It looks like you provide a lot of opportunities to the artists and the quality is good. I hope I will enjoy more opportunities with ITSLIQUID group.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
NS – Great organization and I feel great people behind the scenes.