THE TIMELESS WORLD OF Olga Valeska INTERVIEW By Carlotta Buosi Q1: You are a very eclectic artist, how do you manage to combine all your skills in one product? Since I was little, I’ve been practicing a lot of different art forms: painting, drawing, sculpture writing. But the world I’m trying to express is always the same, as eclectic as it is itself. That is why everything always assembles very naturally, without effort. I must say that photography helps me a lot too. Indeed, as part of my artistic activity as a photographer I do everything, hair and make-up, painting and drawing, creating costumes, sets, sculptures; but I also play roles, since I am my own model. With my approach to staging and self-portrait photography really is a total art for me.
Q1: What is your artistic background? As I said, I’ve always bathed in a particular universe and i have always tried to express myself through art. As a child I had problems with autism and am sometimes a bit secretive and solitary. My world was my refuge, and art was the form I used to create it. Although, I am at present particularly interested in using the medium of photography, I have never had dreams of becoming a photographer. In fact until two years ago I had never even handled a camera! I have lived in a fairly traditional environment, without cars, TV, computer or phones. I was very connected with nature and with my dreams, but at one point I wanted to make my dreams more concrete. As photography is an art that reflects reality, transcribing a dream with pictures somehow makes it real. People can say, “This really existed” The link between dreams and reality then becomes more tenuous and that is the whole point for me. But again the photograph is not the biggest thing; I still consider it a “creative image “ no matter the medium used to produce it.
Q3: Your images are entirely created by yourself, is there a phase of the creative process you prefer? It depends on the day, and my mood is very changeable! When I feel like being quiet I create costumes, small objects, painting and drawings. When I feel more energy, I begin to construct large complex scenes, which often require long hours of preparation and great moves, or I start shoots that that are endless. Shooting is such a special moment for me! Making a self-portrait gives me the impression of being transported as if in a dream. Making a self-portrait, is like playing a role on stage, but with the freedom of not caring, as there are no spectators. This, in my opinion, can make you feel free and accomplished.
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