Interview: Olga Georgitsia
Luca Curci talks with Olga Georgitsia during FRAGMENTED IDENTITIES and FUTURE LANDSCAPES, second and third appointments of BORDERS Art Fair 2020, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

“My art is the study and observation of modern society in which, according to me, the influence of the media captures personal opinions and then turns these into thoughts for the masses. Individual thoughts are removed, and thus modern society tends to deceive itself. We are overwhelmed by what we have created. Nevertheless we try to keep our humanity in all its aspects in daily life in a globalized thought. Truth becomes lies and lies become truth. The thought alone that billions of people lead nearly the same life every day is somehow astounding and, at the same time, fascinating”.

Luca Curci – What is your background?
Olga Georgitsia – I come from the south of Ukraine, from the Bessarabia region which is very international, I have in particular a mixture of Bulgarian and Romanian blood. Since childhood, I have been in love with fashion and art. My mom and aunt owned a fabric store which kicked off my love of tailoring and fashion. I was allowed to choose any material from the store and implement my ideas, unfortunately a lot of the fabrics were then damaged from me! I also drew a lot, painted albums with watercolors and pencils; my love of art led me to a children’s art school, where I studied for 5 years. There, I received not only a good education in academic drawing, but also the skills in terms of discipline and diligence, I still remember the famous saying of my teacher – “A talent is not enough to get a result, hard work is necessary” – this phrase has remained a great motivator in life for me. When I was 11, I won the first international competition for a young artist. The art school teacher was of the opinion that I should develop my natural sense of color and painting skills, get an education in the art field; but my professional choice fell on fashion. I graduated from Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design with a master’s degree, then from ESMOD International Fashion School in Munich. And after a few years in the fashion industry, I went back to… art again.

LC – What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
OG – My background in the fashion industry made me take a closer look at human behavior. I have noticed that modern society as a whole focuses on the outside world, which has to be decorated with goods and objects. To be accepted by society, you must comply with fashion standards, confirm your status with an expensive bag or watch. Fashion trends materialize among the masses, they become a social regulator of behavior. Imitation role, as an abstract individual, prevails over individuality and personal opinion. Of course, the fashion industry is only one of the industries that transforms society into ‘mass’, experience in another field would give me the same opinion. An example of globalization is popular music – no matter where you travel, from America to Asia and Australia, you will hear the same popular song played in a cafe, nightclub or on the radio.

LC – What is art for you?
OG – For me, art is a reflection of my thoughts and feelings for the world. I use art to better explore and understand the world around me. It is also a way of communicating with people through my work. Without art, I would be constantly within myself in a world full of unspoken realities.

LC – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme?
OG – My paintings are a compilation of my reflections on today’s culture and the dominant philosophy in mass consciousness. My observations and research have critically introduced me to modern society, in which, in my opinion, mass society and the disappearance of individuality and personality are well-known symptoms. The masses play a leading role, they pretend not to notice the absurdity that surrounds them. Individual thoughts are suppressed, and modern society is deceiving itself: people take events that they consider significant with absolute ‘seriousness’. By the word ‘seriousness’ I do not mean a businessman in a suit – ‘seriousness’ is a zone of mental comfort, within which it is pleasant and beautiful, within which you can laugh and not think about the research of the Essential. The “abstract MEME” depicted in my paintings is an example.

LC – What is your creative process like?
OG – The idea for the work often comes from reading philosophical books of postmodernism or watching online information such as science channels on YouTube or documentaries. Very often I hear or read something that turns out to be this idea, hidden in my head, but for some reason not expressing itself. Then I start to imagine a suitable sketch that could express that idea as intensely as possible. The sketch takes a lot of time, I have to constantly change the position of the characters, the environment, the proportions to be satisfied with the composition and the atmosphere of the work. Therefore, I always have to draw a sketch in parallel from acrylic drawings. In general, I find it difficult to concentrate on a single work, it bores me very quickly, which then leads to a slow and unenthusiastic work!

LC – Which role the artist plays in the society?
OG – I believe that the role of an artist is the responsibility to reveal the truth and to bring differences into society. With the expression of any opinion – whether it is an environmental, political or social issue – the artist can influence the mind of the viewer. This is essentially the artist’s strength: to reveal the truth and make it emotional.

LC – And the contemporary art?
OG – Contemporary art is extremely important for culture and society. Its importance lies in the fact that the different points of view expressed in contemporary art are of incredible value and reflect many changes, not only in society, but also in science and philosophy. Contemporary art illuminates borders, shapes culture and influences history.

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?
OG – I admit that it would have been complicated to create a collection for the Festival, if only for a question of timing. But it seemed totally natural and logical to me to present my paintings at your festival because of the theme.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
OG – Yes absolutely, as well on your vision of the range of the arts as on your openness to new talents. And what can I say about the theme of the festival, a direct hit for me, a topic that has occupied and fascinated me for months.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
OG – First of all, it’s wonderful to be able to participate in an event in Venice with all that this city represents. Then I really appreciated the organization based on conviviality. There is an individual grip with real communication and a warm welcome. We feel the sincere interest in the artist and his work.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
OG – I would definitely recommend a collaboration with you. And about the services, sometimes the best compliment is when you have nothing to say!

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
OG – Yes of course and I am an example and a witness of that. I am very happy and very proud to participate in this adventure which is the source of a real opportunity for my emergence and my development as an artist.