Inna Sych: “Uniqueness in imperfection, that’s what my paintings talk about”
Fashion illustrator Inna Sych spoke exclusively for Woman Magazine about the mission of artists, her own reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, charity and the Venice Biennale.
Ukrainian culture was successively destroyed over the centuries. Bans on printing in the Ukrainian language, repression of artists, Shot Revival. Why do you think art has always been a weapon, especially during war?
This is a kind of media that showed the war through the eyes of Ukrainian artists. Artists under the oppression of empires preserved national identity and spread Ukrainian, and now we, Ukrainians, we understand how important it was both then and now.
Artists under the oppression of empires preserved their national identity
Art can only be art when it speaks to the viewer. When an artist picks up his “weapon”, his “arsenal” of experiences – he speaks. To work with people, to break false narratives that are being pushed aggressor. In times of war, we often turn to the past in search of other people’s experiences to help us get through the hard times. And to find strength in those who successfully carried out cultural resistance. Ukrainian artists know a lot about the struggle, and today it is especially important to read and study them.
Artists reproduce events, their experiences on a real or virtual canvas. What was the first thing you drew after February 23?
The first were quick virtual sketches that depicted what was happening. Of course, it was about war, fear, a cry for help. I could not imagine that it would hurt so much. I drew the crimes that the Russian Federation allowed itself against women and children, which is impossible to forget. After a few days, these feelings transformed into a feeling of faith in the Armed Forces and victory. An attempt to give people some code of faith, and not despair, first of all for themselves, and for all those who are equally crushed. That’s when I finished the work that I sent to a charity exhibition in Puerto Rico.
I could not imagine that it would hurt so much
Your work Naked Freedom sold at auction for $12,000 during an exhibition in Puerto Rico, becoming the gallery’s most expensive lot. This is how you joined the Ukrainian army. What did you feel at that moment?
The feeling was overwhelming. IN first of all, happiness that I can be useful and help my country in wartime. I gave $10,000 to help. I am the mother of a baby, and I have few ways to contribute to help. In addition, the project gave me faith that my paintings can be appreciated and needed by someone. When I saw the sale amount, I couldn’t believe it, and tears of happiness flowed.
What are the central themes of your work?
My art works are about the fact that it is not necessary to be beautiful according to the standard of beauty – the main thing is to accept yourself. Without standards, templates and masks. Women are tired of standards. Uniqueness in imperfections, that’s what my paintings talk about. I believe that we can live in harmony with ourselves, accept our strength. Each of us is beautiful by the fact of our existence, each of us is already a work of art. Each of us can feel like a queen if we accept our uniqueness. I myself went through all the stages of self-acceptance, my appearance, association with the ugly duckling, and self-love came at almost 30.
Uniqueness in imperfections
The crypto industry is booming and the interest in crypto art grows every year only grows. What future do you personally predict for this art?
I’m not a specialist, but I think it depends on a lot of factors, it’s hard to predict, but even if the future is not so optimistic, in my opinion, it should not prevent you from studying and trying this field now.
The Venice Biennale will soon be held, where 140 artists will take part, including about 20 from Ukraine. You will represent Ukraine at an international exhibition. What works are you preparing and what is your most important personal mission?
The Venice Biennale is the most important event in the world of contemporary art. I am happy to be a part of this event, happy that I can do something important without being in Ukraine. This is hope and a breath of fresh air. Our culture and history that we will be able to preserve. One of the works is devoted to faith in victory, despite all the atrocities committed by the Russian army. The war took away our past life. Our achievements, our affairs, plans and achievements.
The war took away from many House, took away peace and a clear future. But they will not be able to take away from us – us. On my canvases infinite suffering and faith in salvation coexist. The work focuses on the opposite and mixing of fatality and hope.
They will not be able to take us away from us
Tell us about the series you are currently working on What reveals the theme of a woman’s acquaintance with her sexuality? Why is it important and what meanings do you attach to it?
Sexuality and confidence are inseparable concepts. Without revealing one, it is impossible to achieve the other. Only when we go deep inside ourselves, know and perceive, we can reveal all our talents and possibilities. For a long time I avoided this in my life and could not understand where the stone is that prevents me from breathing more freely. Start a romance with yourself, get to know yourself, fill yourself to the brim, and then understand what else you need. I am valuable in my own right, just because I am and not because someone loves and wants me.
In my opinion, sexuality was always something vulgar, and women who radiated it and were not ashamed were equated with primitiveness. Having set such restrictions to myself, I was rejecting a part of myself. But at some critical moment, new realizations came and self-awareness began. This is what the series is about. About the beauty of this acquaintance and the importance of accepting all sides.
Should an artist have limits beyond which one cannot go?
No, for what it’s worth everyone knows Salvador Dali. Personally, after working on paintings, I feel the feeling that you are relieved, as if all the excess goes through your hands, and the paints give you inner silence instead.
Creativity is one of the most accessible and intuitive methods of self-help and living feelings. Frida, bedridden after the accident, asked for paints and a canvas. So she wrote her story about miscarriages, a broken spine and a broken heart. Leaving the world famous canvases and a precedent of a strong woman. Andy Warhol turned from a shy, self-confident boy into an idol of a generation. And Magritte, who endlessly insisted on his “ordinariness”, painted some of the most unusual paintings of the entire century.
Art is a safe territory. Because one of the biggest dissonances of a person is the desire to “not be like everyone else” and the incredible fear that this will happen. Being special and being a white crow are not the same thing, but where is this fine line? And when you are an artist, you are allowed everything. Artists allow themselves to be imperfect, because in order to create an ideal, they have canvases.
You actively participate in various exhibitions. Do you often visit art places yourself as a spectator? What is your personal Pinterest?
Oh yes, I am a frequent visitor there. That’s where I get my inspiration. You can say that this is a place of strength, because you forget about all the difficulties and immerse yourself in the worlds that were painted by the geniuses of their time. My pinterest consists of the works of fashion illustrators and artists, fashion, stylish outfits, beautiful photos of interiors, books and films about a strong family, love, friendship and humanity.
Have you had creative crisis moments? Who inspires you? Can you say that a crisis is a certain state where masterpieces can be born?
Oh yes, it seems to me that crises in artists are stability. It point for growth. When you can’t do the old thing anymore, and you haven’t found the new one yet. But there are always two ways to create masterpieces and success. Through pain and through love. Everyone knows the regularity of drama in the lives of famous artists, and then they write something great because they live their lives right on the canvas. But for some reason it seems to me that this is a stereotype and it is not necessary to suffer in order to create masterpieces and write deep plots. To create, as well as to live, through pain is the most accessible and obvious way, which is easy to find, but it is difficult and painful to follow it. But there is still a way through love, both in creativity and in life. And it is much more difficult to find, but to follow it means to enjoy every step. And he needs constant work on himself and transformations.
I am inspired own success and achievements. The success of other people, artists of the past such as Picasso, Salvador Dali, Modigliani, Schille, Matisse, all of them cannot be listed. Since I am self-taught, and not so long ago I began to study their history, each of them is a sweet discovery for me.
I am inspired by my own dreams, and they are quite ambitious. I dream of exhibitions all over the world, to work with global brands such as Tiffany, Chanel, Gucci. I dream of being a good mother and a better wife to my beloved, and, of course, about the end of the war, now this is the dream of the whole nation.
Photo: Katya Kosiv , Anastasia Strelbitska
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