Interview: Nelya Hapchyn
Luca Curci talks with Nelya Hapchyn during CONTEMPORARY VENICE 2021 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

Nelya Hapchyn was born in 1971 in Lviv, Ukraine. In her childhood, she was fond of painting under the influence of her father Vassyl, painter of orthodox icons. She studied under the direction of the different painters in Madrid and the great portraitist Maria Jose Penyaranda. Nelya’s works are comprehensive, she creates realistic paintings and abstractions, working in bright and calm colours. Her favourite materials are canvas and leather. “My art is permanent research. On the one hand, I just show people the beauty and harmony of the world. On the other hand, some of my works call to think about different things, human inhibitions, injustice, etc. I have always been interested in what is beyond human perception.”

Nelya participated in exhibitions and international competitions in Spain, Ukraine and USA. She was the first-place winner of the Art House Online Gallery contest and has received honourable mention for excellent artwork in the Art Room Online Gallery. Nelya´s artworks are in private collections of Spain, Ukraine, Chile, Italy, Mexico and New Zealand.

Luca Curci – What subject are you working on?
Nelya Hapchyn – Basically, I work in realistic painting.

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
NH – I was born in a family of a painter of orthodox icons. Since my earliest childhood, I have been grown between brushes and painting and it has always been my hobby and my inspiration.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
NH – It is to overcome obstacles every day: I have no time, no money, no creativity, I am lazy and you need to give yourself permission to create and produce artworks.

LC – How do you choose your subjects? Is it a reasoned or an instinctive process?
NH – My eyes choose an image, but my soul is she who decides to paint it.

LC – How do you feel when you see your work completed?
NH – None of my paintings is finished. Being a painter, I don’t feel the word “finish”.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this festival? How did it inspire you?
NH – Unfortunately, I have not been able to attend. I have felt some frustration for not having attended the inauguration, where I could have interacted and enriched myself with the contacts and techniques of other artists and another vision of the art world.

LC – Can you explain something about the artwork you have in our exhibition?
NH – In this work, I wanted to demonstrate the beauty of the male body. With this artwork, I have been the winner of the Art House online Gallery contest, 1st place.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
NH – Yes, of course, it’s a good opportunity.