SCULPTING IN THE STUDIO WITH ALEKSANDRA KRASNOPOLSKA
Photography by Krasnopolska's 11 year old daughter, Zlata Chelysheva
Today we are exploring the studio of our beloved LES artist, Aleksandra Krasnopolska. Krasnopolska is a Ukrainian-born sculptor based in Spain. She is known for her naturalistic and biomorphic sculptures that evoke the beautiful female form. Her one-of-a-kind pieces are made through the intuitive modeling process, where every piece is treated as a form of meditation. She draws inspiration from the beach, birds, ocean, and clouds, expressing that nature is the best painter and sculptor. The studio exudes a serene, clean, and personal ambiance, perfect for her naturalistic works. Read on for an up-close look at Aleksandra's studio.
Our Q&A with Aleksandra about her Spain-based studio:
We are so excited to get the “behind the scenes” of your studio. What was your main source of inspiration for designing your studio?
First and foremost, I love the idea of creating from home. For me, it's a wonderful opportunity not to be confined by time constraints and not to separate my life into "home" and "work." Due to the war in Ukraine, I had to rebuild my life in a new country and, of course, set up my studio anew. For the first year of living on the island of Gran Canaria, I created in the living room and on the terrace of my rented apartments until I found a spacious apartment with a stunning view of the ocean and mountains. So, I have just started setting up my studio, but the main conditions are fulfilled! It’s the ability to create from home,
What does a day in your studio look like?
Usually, my day in the studio doesn't start before 11 AM. I don't stick to a strict schedule, don't count hours, and don't rush; sometimes, I even change my plans depending on my mood. The first thing I do when I enter the studio is open the windows to let the sound of the ocean and the singing of birds fill the space. What I love most are the days when I start creating a new piece. On these days, I plan nothing else and always prepare the clay in advance so that nothing distracts me. There are days when nothing works out, and I just allow it to be... I use this time to prepare clay, sand down already dry sculptures, do a thorough cleaning of the studio, or simply take a day off. Throughout the day, I film a lot of videos of the process, though it can be quite distracting, to be honest. After finishing work and cleaning the studio, I dedicate time to editing videos and processing photos for Instagram and my website. Usually, I finish between 7 and 10 PM, but if I've started a major project, I might work until dawn.
What are your favorite inspirations you find in the natural, everyday world that really transform your art?
When you have an irrepressible desire to create beauty, all your senses are constantly attuned to recognizing and capturing beauty around you. Therefore, wherever I am, I always find pleasant and inspiring visual stimuli. However, my favorite companion in life and creativity has always been, is, and will be the Ocean. Despite my rather complex relationship with it, it is a physical necessity for me to interact with it as often as possible.
We are so intrigued by your “intuitive modeling” method to create your biomorphic sculptures. How did this idea of treating every piece as a form of meditation come about and how have you seen it make a difference in your work?
Initially, when I first took clay into my hands, I did not plan to become a sculptor, and working with clay was a form of art therapy for me. At that time, I was experiencing a severe internal crisis. I started sculpting because I felt an internal need to release the accumulated tension and anxiety that had arisen from deep emotional experiences. Also, perhaps through the biomorphic, sensuously feminine lines of my sculptures, I intuitively tried to fully embrace my femininity and connection with nature. By then, I already had considerable experience in meditation, and when I touched the clay, I easily entered that state. It was very easy for me to combine these two processes. My mind would calm down, the flow of thoughts would stop, and I simply caught the flow and fully surrendered to it. Therefore, initially, the result was not important to me at all; what mattered was my state during the process and how good I felt afterward. Since then, I have changed a lot, and my passion has grown into something much greater. However, the method of creating my sculptures has remained the same, as it is so natural and pure.
Do you have any studio must haves? A podcast? Playlist? Snacks?
I love to create in complete solitude and silence. It is essential for me that nothing and no one distract me, not even music. Of course, I enjoy listening to my favorite music, but I usually do this during the stages of sanding and preparing the clay, and very rarely during the sculpting process. Sometimes, later in the evening, I like to enjoy a glass of good wine.
Couveur No.3 Sold Out |
Rebirth |
Many artists and creators consider the place where they create as important as the final artwork. Do you find that your studio is a haven that inspires you to produce your best work? Why or why not?
For me, the most important thing is not the result and not the space, but the process of creation itself. However, I am also an aesthete and always strive to surround myself with beauty. Having a cozy studio where I feel comfortable is my natural basic need, and yes, it's my sanctuary, but by no means a source of my inspiration. I love my studio apartment for the stunning view of the ocean and its wonderful energy. I am still in the process of arranging it to make the space as pleasant as possible, but life has taught me to be flexible and not to become attached to a place. So, if tomorrow I have to leave and work elsewhere, I know that anywhere in the world, I will find a place that meets my needs and create a cozy and beautiful studio in it.
How would you describe your artistic style in a few words?
Biomorphic ( Organic) Abstraction and Flow Art.
We know you first started working as an architect and interior designer before turning to sculpture. Are there any techniques or elements that your previous occupations have helped you as a professional sculptor?
I had a best friend in the Architectural Academy who taught me the most important thing – to let go of control and fully surrender to the process, to create without clinging to the outcome. Following his example, I never drew sketches of my buildings and structures. Instead, I would take a sheet of paper, cut it, bend it, crumple it, and intuitively glue it together until I got a beautiful shape. This way, very easily and playfully, I created voluminous 3D models of my future projects. I think this is the main skill that I carried over to the process of creating my sculptures. Also, thanks to painting lessons, I learned to defocus my vision, a skill I consider priceless as it greatly enhances the ability to see and think spatially. And, of course, it's worth noting the high level of concentration and precision that undoubtedly develop through architectural design. By the way, an interesting fact about me: I didn't like sculpture lessons and often skipped them! :)
What is your approach to cleaning your studio and making sure your space is maintained while also being home to your creative outlet?
It's very simple. Every day after work, I thoroughly clean the studio. Even if it's 2 a.m. and I'm terribly tired. It's a rule. Additionally, about once a month, I do a deep cleaning. By the way, I would never let anyone else clean my studio. I can't even imagine it.
Your one-of-a-kind sculptures are known to be inspired by nature. How does nature’s inspiration translate into your artwork and when did you start gaining inspiration from it?
Inspiration for me is, first and foremost, the energy of pleasure, when I am in harmony with my feminine nature and what I do and where I am... Contemplating nature helps me relax and feel the source within myself, helps me feel the unity of all living things, my connection with all that is alive. So, inspiration from nature for me does not mean borrowing or bringing forms or lines seen in nature into my sculptures. It is more about that filled state, that energy of pleasure and the vibrations I emit when interacting with it. In such a state, I simply cannot help but create!
Your pieces have such a signature and quality look to it. Besides sculpture and ceramics, what other materials are you curious about bringing into your studio?
I’ve been contemplating combining ceramics with impasto painting, though for now, it's just an idea in my mind. I really like the concept of blending wood, metal, or glass with ceramics. Perhaps, in the future, I'll experiment with these combinations.