Marina Jijina Interview
1) How long have you been making art?
I really can't remember how and when I began to draw. I think I was
around 4 years old – a little girl growing up in Leningrad in the bleak Soviet
Union mid 1970s. As a child I lived by my imagination, and one
of my usual pastimes was drawing and painting pictures from my mind .
I didn't really like what was happening around me, and remember
feeling quite lonely as a child ..Drawing and painting felt like a
natural activity,it allowed me to hide away from the real world that I
didn't seem to belong to , and I quickly learnt to enjoy my
imaginative world which felt safer and much happier.
2) How would you describe your work?
At the moment I am painting, drawing and making collages. They are
often images of people, possibly my contemporaries or imaginary,
composite characters. I'm fascinated by the differentuality of the
human face, particularly when looking beyond the ordinary. It seems
that our brain is an endless field for exploration and a rich
playground for creativity, while the human face itself is a kind of a
map to guide you on this time journey . I have felt an urge to take my
imagery further, beyond the stillness of the canvas..and recently
became involved in several multimedia projects.
In collaboration with London-based composer Tim Gill, we are working
towards an original infusion of sounds and images based on Tim's
composition ‘Escape’. The second project is inclusion of my artwork in
a film-operetta ''The Murder of Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich'' by the
innovative American Zimbo Films production team. I'm also pleased that
my image Firebird has been taken into a T-shirt production by a
Coventry University based company 21 Century Clothing Ltd.
To answer the question directly, I would describe my work as sincere,
with people and their inner struggles as the subject matter .When I
set my mind to create I always make sure I'm absolutely honest with
myself. Honesty is the quality that I value in other artists work,too
. For me portraiture has become a kind of a metaphysical way of
exploration of the humankind.
3) Can you describe your style?
I wouldn't be able to describe my style as I'd like to leave myself
free from any boundaries and formalities when I create .But I can talk
about materials :I prefer to use simple materials such as pencil or
pen and oil painting on canvas.In collage work I usually use scissors,
paper and a glue. When doing collages I like to recycle the imagery
archives that I accumulated over the years.
4) Who or what inspires you to make art?
All my art work ( including occasional writing ) starts with an idea
in my mind. The inspiration often comes when I read ,listen to the
music ,or see an image that suddenly stirs something in my memory or
imagination. My work is primarily based on association where sound,
word and image are interconnected . I also draw inspiration from the
people that I find very interesting ,these are often original
thinkers, such as philosophers,writers or artists ,I'm drawn to
eccentrics. Every day I dedicate a few hours to research ,-sometimes I
have to look far afield for those special characters to aspire to,
for example, one of such personalities whose ideas have had a lasting
impact on my imagination is a French philosopher Jacques Derrida.
5) Is there a medium or technique that you have yet to try but would like to?
One day I would love to collaborate with a film maker taking part in
the process of making of the film or a video art. In some ways I've
already started working towards that dream..
6) What are your plans for the nearest future and New Artist Fair in March?
At the New Artist Fair in March I'll be showing a couple of my latest paintings,
drawings and collages that I haven't exhibited before. The Islington
exhibition is followed by my solo show Back To Red where I'll have
around 20 pictures on display, hence it's going to be a busy month.
7) Can you tell us about your solo show?
Back to Red is my forthcoming 4th solo exhibition ,it is taking
place in a very large 18th Century consecrated barn not far from
Abingdon,near Oxford. Stonehill House is the country retreat of Anthea
Norman-Taylor, previously a music business executive and the wife of Brian Eno.
She has developed strong links with the Russian music, artistic and cultural
scene over the past 2 decades,the exhibition coincide with series of
talks based on the burst of Russian avant-garde culture in the first
half of the 20th century.. As the title suggests these works are an
intentional contemplation of the previous stages in my life so far,
and growing up in Soviet Russia,the period that I still struggle to
come to terms with, in particular.
8) Where did you sell your first painting and how did it feel?
It happened when I was still in art school,I must have been around 16
years old then. Having a picture sold has always felt thrilling ever
since that day!
9) What would your ideal exhibition be like?
An exhibition including different media artists united by one theme
related to humanities showing at a Saatchi gallery in London.
I really can't remember how and when I began to draw. I think I was
around 4 years old – a little girl growing up in Leningrad in the bleak Soviet
Union mid 1970s. As a child I lived by my imagination, and one
of my usual pastimes was drawing and painting pictures from my mind .
I didn't really like what was happening around me, and remember
feeling quite lonely as a child ..Drawing and painting felt like a
natural activity,it allowed me to hide away from the real world that I
didn't seem to belong to , and I quickly learnt to enjoy my
imaginative world which felt safer and much happier.
2) How would you describe your work?
At the moment I am painting, drawing and making collages. They are
often images of people, possibly my contemporaries or imaginary,
composite characters. I'm fascinated by the differentuality of the
human face, particularly when looking beyond the ordinary. It seems
that our brain is an endless field for exploration and a rich
playground for creativity, while the human face itself is a kind of a
map to guide you on this time journey . I have felt an urge to take my
imagery further, beyond the stillness of the canvas..and recently
became involved in several multimedia projects.
In collaboration with London-based composer Tim Gill, we are working
towards an original infusion of sounds and images based on Tim's
composition ‘Escape’. The second project is inclusion of my artwork in
a film-operetta ''The Murder of Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich'' by the
innovative American Zimbo Films production team. I'm also pleased that
my image Firebird has been taken into a T-shirt production by a
Coventry University based company 21 Century Clothing Ltd.
To answer the question directly, I would describe my work as sincere,
with people and their inner struggles as the subject matter .When I
set my mind to create I always make sure I'm absolutely honest with
myself. Honesty is the quality that I value in other artists work,too
. For me portraiture has become a kind of a metaphysical way of
exploration of the humankind.
3) Can you describe your style?
I wouldn't be able to describe my style as I'd like to leave myself
free from any boundaries and formalities when I create .But I can talk
about materials :I prefer to use simple materials such as pencil or
pen and oil painting on canvas.In collage work I usually use scissors,
paper and a glue. When doing collages I like to recycle the imagery
archives that I accumulated over the years.
4) Who or what inspires you to make art?
All my art work ( including occasional writing ) starts with an idea
in my mind. The inspiration often comes when I read ,listen to the
music ,or see an image that suddenly stirs something in my memory or
imagination. My work is primarily based on association where sound,
word and image are interconnected . I also draw inspiration from the
people that I find very interesting ,these are often original
thinkers, such as philosophers,writers or artists ,I'm drawn to
eccentrics. Every day I dedicate a few hours to research ,-sometimes I
have to look far afield for those special characters to aspire to,
for example, one of such personalities whose ideas have had a lasting
impact on my imagination is a French philosopher Jacques Derrida.
5) Is there a medium or technique that you have yet to try but would like to?
One day I would love to collaborate with a film maker taking part in
the process of making of the film or a video art. In some ways I've
already started working towards that dream..
6) What are your plans for the nearest future and New Artist Fair in March?
At the New Artist Fair in March I'll be showing a couple of my latest paintings,
drawings and collages that I haven't exhibited before. The Islington
exhibition is followed by my solo show Back To Red where I'll have
around 20 pictures on display, hence it's going to be a busy month.
7) Can you tell us about your solo show?
Back to Red is my forthcoming 4th solo exhibition ,it is taking
place in a very large 18th Century consecrated barn not far from
Abingdon,near Oxford. Stonehill House is the country retreat of Anthea
Norman-Taylor, previously a music business executive and the wife of Brian Eno.
She has developed strong links with the Russian music, artistic and cultural
scene over the past 2 decades,the exhibition coincide with series of
talks based on the burst of Russian avant-garde culture in the first
half of the 20th century.. As the title suggests these works are an
intentional contemplation of the previous stages in my life so far,
and growing up in Soviet Russia,the period that I still struggle to
come to terms with, in particular.
8) Where did you sell your first painting and how did it feel?
It happened when I was still in art school,I must have been around 16
years old then. Having a picture sold has always felt thrilling ever
since that day!
9) What would your ideal exhibition be like?
An exhibition including different media artists united by one theme
related to humanities showing at a Saatchi gallery in London.
