Ilusión Efimera

Ilusión Efimera by Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky

Interview with Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky

Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky is a Colombia Native born to Argentinian parents. She holds a bachelors in anthropology with a minor in history and a postgraduate degree in Journalism from Universidad of Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia. She has studied art for over 13 years with well know Argentinian art master, as well as studies in a minor in Fine Art in Florence, Italy, and Fine Arts & Design in USA.  Today, Vivian is leaving in Madrid, Spain, looking for new inspirations.

Vivian has shown her work in both individual and collective shows in Colombia and USA. She has been published in multiple books, magazines and webpages, and has received multiples awards.

Vivian has spent the last years investigating The Prints of the Earth. As expressed by the artist: “During this investigative process, I have come to the realization that these prints reflect my most intimate and profound feelings, emotions, wishes, sadness and life experiences. My intention behind painting is to create magical worlds that move people, that makes them look within and explore their feelings when confronted with my work. The Prints are related to an extraordinary universe, filled with color, texture, sand and ashes. I try to translate my own path into the canvas and in the process a Print is left behind, filled with all of what makes me.”

Linsey Jayne: “Ilusión Efimera” is absolutely breathtaking. Our staff was particularly struck by the way in which this image is so clearly textured. It is at turns a celebration, a moment of deep peace, natural, and almost animal, or human.

You say, “My intention behind painting is to create magical worlds that move people, that makes them look within and explore their feelings when confronted with my work. The Prints are related to an extraordinary universe, filled with color, texture, sand and ashes. I try to translate my own path into the canvas and in the process a Print is left behind, filled with all of what makes me.” Can you tell us more about this particular piece, and what it means or says to you? What is the story behind it?

Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky: One of the things I love about my work is the movement it has, in addition to the use of color that is vibrant and strong. My pieces captures light of magical universes and that is the reason that capture your attention.

I embody life, force and light through my sensitive manipulations of paint. Force and vitality are evidenced in each brushstroke that caresses the canvas with radiant light. My fascination with vibrant color in my paintings motivate me to keep creating new worlds, and I can’t stop doing that! On the other hand, my goal is for each person who observe my work to have fun, play and draw their own interpretations.

Colors influence us on how we feel they can make us feel calm, excite, relax, sad or happy. And the idea is to play around with these relationships of colors, textures, motion relative to what we feel when we see one of my pieces. That’s the story behind my work. What makes you feel, what makes you think… And if I got the viewer excited a bit with this work! Then I feel completely satisfied.

Linsey Jayne: What inspired you to begin work on the “Prints of the Earth”?

Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky: Everything inspires me! The earth, the sea, the universe! I find inspiration everywhere—you would be amazed if you really pay attention to the simple things.

Linsey Jayne: What is the process of creating art like for you? How do you know when a piece is complete?

Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky: My creative process starts when I have to resolve problems, and I love to do that. When I have a blank canvas I begin to create stains with water, black color and plastic stucco, in some cases I use sand or ashes and I make them my own elements, because they guide me through my creative process.

I resolve problems by identifying the stains. I give them life with volume, shadows, tones, and of course color. And they reflect magic universes.

In terms of how I know when a piece is complete: each piece is different, but as I paint I try and give each work time to settle. I might stop for a couple of days or even start from scratch. In other cases I admire my work from a distance and at different times of day to see how light changes them.

In summary one could work endlessly on one piece but something inside tells me when to stop and makes me feel happy with the final piece.

Linsey Jayne: How has your artwork evolved over time? What have been the most challenging obstacles to overcome in your work as an artist?

Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky: I have been painting since I was 12 years old. I learned with an Argentinian master who gave me lessons after school. Painting is a process, at first there is the learning of the technique, color, perspective, to blurr lines and to understand the reality of things through painting. With those tools one starts to dominate the technique, experiment and have personal goals that lead you to new challenges. I believe this is the best way of growing in the things that one does!

I studied anthropology and history, and later I did my master’s degree in journalism (without leaving my painting aside), but the biggest challenge for me was understanding that what had accompanied me throughout my life, was painting and this made me feel complete. I took the decision to start from scratch and so I studied Fine Arts and Design. This was the best decision of my life. Today, I feel like I have yet to grow as a artist and challenge myself as I have more elements and techniques to paint.

The biggest struggle that I have had are all the changes that life has put in front of me. From living in Colombia I moved to Tampa, then Boston and Harrisburg in the United States; now I currently live in Madrid, Spain.

However, these changes are always good, because they challenge you to find your way in life. I can paint anywhere; I only need my paintbrushes, paints and canvas. But the complicated thing is to start again every time I move to a different city our country. Learning about the artistic movement of the cities, the art galleries and of course trying to promote oneself, is very hard, especially when you are already known in other cities.

But this opens new doors to me and helps me to learn about different things as well as inspires me about the new places where I have to live. It is hard, but like everything in life, if you work hard things will come your way.

With regards to my pieces, it is about getting out of your comfort zone, and this is very hard to do, since it is easier to stick to one technique one dominates instead of venturing out to new things. If you do not get out of your comfort zone you can get stuck. This happens to all artists and even though one tries to change, develop and try new things, one faces a mental creative block. But I like challenges and I always try to participate in workshops, meet people who are artists, read, go to museums, galleries and fill myself of new inspirations. The art world is not easy, but like any job you have to paint every day even in the days you doesn’t feel like painting and you has to knock on as many doors as possible.

Linsey Jayne: What artists or pieces have influenced your work? What is it about these people or works that speak to you?

Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky: My biggest influence is my mentor Carlos Orrea, he is an amazing and recognized artist who lives in Colombia and he taught me all that I know since I was a child.

I admire and love a lot of Colombian artist like Carlos Jacanamijoy, Omar Rayo, Negret, from Mexico Frida Khalo and of course all the expressionist Kandinsky, Malevich, Rodthko, Miró etc.I have had mentors that have left a mark on me and that have taught me amazing things that I now apply in my paintings.

Every artist has their need to express something. My mentor could have influenced me to some point, but the growing process of every artist is very intimate and personal; everyone has their own and unique way of doing things. I admire many, and I am in love with thousands of masterpieces that I would love to own. I fell in love with the uniqueness of the lines drawn by the artists, the way they use color, the spatula, the theme of their work and above all I am intrigued by the elements that make them unique. I try to be around art, because I find inspiration from all the people that have something to say…to show…to express.

I try to be around art, because I find inspiration from all the people that have something to say… to show… to express. But my work is completely mine and very personal, plus it reflects my own searches. I hope I can move others with my work as I am moved by many masterpieces.

Linsey Jayne: Are you working on any projects currently that you’d like to share with our readers?

Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky: Yes, currently I am working on a new project in Spain. I want to leave my prints of the Earth research aside. I am doing a new series in where some colors predominate than others. I start my work with water stains and they are the ones that will dominate the work. They will be for now a series of 50 pieces where I will resolve stain problems and will limit de range of colors. You will see!

Linsey Jayne: Who is one artist our readers should check out, and why?

Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky: Me? Hahaha! Just kidding, Art is subjective. In my opinion I believe people should find elements that make them feel, that moves them. For example for me Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothkno, Kandinsky, Malevich, Soutine and Miro (just to name a few) are the artists that move me the most. Even though each day I find new pieces of art that touch me. For example I was at the Prado Museum in Spain and saw the executions series and Goya’s dark masterpieces and I cried of emotion. Just a simple image can convey a message that you can never imagine! And sometimes they are indescribable. But I reiterate, it is something very intimate and personal.

Linsey Jayne: What’s the name of your favorite book, author, or poet, and why is this book (or person) so close to your heart?

Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky: The Neverending Story, by Michael Ende, is one of my favorite books. it is a magic story that transports us to another world, unknown and unique. I have read the book at least five times and it marked my childhood enormously. Its importance lies in the fact that this book reminds me that my work is also magic and there are no limits that can bind me. Another of my favorite books is the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, a poetic story. This is one of the most touching books for me, because I have read it many times as well and at different stages of my life. The Little Prince on top of having social critiques, it teaches us about friendship, love, respect in between others. It is a book that makes us reevaluate many things about ourselves, as you may see things different than they really are. This is way they are extraordinary books and a big influence on me

Linsey Jayne: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Vivian Calderón Bogoslavsky: Just let yourself be moved!