Peripheral ARTeries
Petronela Semancikova
an interview with
Petronela Semancikova Hi Petronela, we would start this inerview with our usual ice breaker question: what in your opinion defines a work of Art? Moreover, what could in your opinion be the features that characterize a piece of Contemporary Art? Is it just a matter of making Art during these last years?
Before, in times without modern technology, the painters for example mastered their technique to capture portraits, situations, etc. in an incredible manner. They were and some of them still are recognized artists. Nowadays, as cameras become a common part of our life, it is not necessary to picture anything without a message; and this is what contemporary art means to me: a message that an artwork carries, a sense why it was created. From my point of view, any kind of work, even if beauti-ful and precisely elaborated, without its point stays only a craftsmanship. Please tell us something about your background: we have read in your bio that you have recently earned your BA in Fine Art, focusing on Experimental Media. How has this experience impacted on the way you make Art? By the way, do you think that artists with a formal education have an advantage over self-taught artists?
Petronela Semancikova (A photo by Katerina Motylova)
I needed to rest from computer and I had been self-teaching how to sew for a few months that time. I found sewing very relaxing and I really enjoyed working with textiles, so I started to explore and experiment in the field of textile art. Otherwise, the BA studies were a life changing experience for me. I questioned myself every single week, I learned how to listen to my spirit. Thanks to our great lecturers, I also got to know how to face everything I had tended to avoid.
During my university studies, I spent 2 years in course of HND Interactive Media. This field is very complex and we were introduced to various types of media, 2D, 3D animations, sound production, photography and its manipulation, web creation, interactive installation, etc. It gave me an incredible overview in the field. During my BA Experimental Media studies we were given freedom to experiment with any kind of media. I felt like
I believe it is much harder to start as an artist without an education. Nowadays, skills can be gained in tutorials, courses and self experimen52