Elizaveta Rukavishnikova is a Russian born artist currently residing in Johannesburg. Her art functions as a mirror and is rooted in what she calls Space-Mystic Humanism. Her paintings and drawings depict haunting characters all expressed in pastel tones. In my interview with the artist we discussed her past and her creative process.
Rukavishnikova grew up in post Soviet Russia during times of turmoil, when Perestroika took a hold of the Union. Perestroika was a political agenda aimed at restructuring the Soviet political and economic system, and occurred during the 1980s and lasted until 1991. With the fall of the Soviet Union came new waves in culture and social life. The collapse of the Union created more freedom for the people of Russia.
“Living in the Soviet Union you couldn’t be different in any way. People had a common idea, and everyone had to look the same, stand in line and if you happened to not be like everyone, people would judge you and it could have led to trouble. With the collapse of the union, young people were up for everything new that came from overseas and lots of subcultures took over their minds. For the older generation it was a huge struggle to adjust to the new situation in Russia.”
Rukavishnikova was raised by her grandmother. Growing up in an anti-American propaganda age, Rukavishnikova was able to only watch black and white soviet union cartoons as a child and would play outside in the cold snow of Moscow.
“My first exhibition happened when I was 3 years old. I painted lots of pictures and glued them all on new wallpaper, which my family didn’t appreciate, I think. My love for art was born with me. All my life I wanted to be an artist. I always painted and loved going to museums. Russia is a very cultural country with many museums and large collections to see. I grew up watching all the world famous artists.”
Losing her family support when she was still a child, Rukavishnikova had to fend for herself from a very young age. After school there were not many opportunities for her to study art because of the cost, so she decided to attend a teacher training collage that was free of charge. Rukavishnikova expresses a deep love for learning about different cultures and tells me that during her time at the teacher’s training college Arabic language courses were her escape.
At the time Rukavishnikova found a free art class for kids and asked if she could be a part of the class. The teacher consented to her request and made room for her to have private drawing lessons. After her time at the teacher’s training college, Rukavishnikova had a desire to study art and got into university by winning an art competition. Leaving her studies uncompleted because of finances, she had to work full time. She expresses that this was an extremely heartbreaking development for her as she believed that she would never be able to be an artist unless she had the relevant qualifications.
She sought out jobs that would allow her to be creative and found an advert in a newspaper for a shop window decorator. Dividing her time between decorating shop windows in Moscow, painting and drawing, Rukavishnikova never lost hope that one day she would make something of her artistic inclinations. Following her heart and passion, she left her job and started traveling. Rukavishnikova’s time spent in India is where her career began to take flight.
“I think such things as style of painting will die soon for modern artists. I think the idea of modern art is for everyone to have their own style and call it as they want. Mine will be Space-Mystic humanism.” Rukavishnikova feels that painting and drawing are the best way for her to express what she wants to share with people. “I think that at the moment, I’m trying to make my language work in painting. I love colours. When I hear music for example, I can see the colours of each and every sound. All ABC letters have their own colour in my head, in Russian and in English. All sounds, smells around me have colours and I always see it.”
Expressing that her artworks never have a single message she describes her art as a mirror. “People see what they want to see, very often I can find out more about a person by listening to how they respond to my art.” Creating new worlds within her art, people play a big part in these new worlds that she paints and draws. Rukavishnikova is interested in seeing people from different angles and showing her view of her subjects in her art, creating something new, a new world of pastel craze.
Rukavishnikova is currently drawn to sky blue, pink and pastel colours. Expressing that her colour choices often come to her after her concept, she states that the experience of the process is always different for her. “My life is an artwork, why can’t you be an artwork? Art can save the world and I hope it’s going in that direction. What can be painted on a canvas can be made real.”
Elizaveta’s art is currently about Russia and her new experiences on a different continent. She finds enjoyment in putting these two cultural layers together on canvas.“Its so interesting to see it together. Cold, huge Russia with its history and current political situation. Russia which I know and see, and Africa, a different place with opposite weather, nature and people. I’m learning more and more about African cultures. Trying to feel more of Africa. My works are a lot about people’s rights in Russia. I want to bring people to a new way of looking at themselves. I think its very important, to bring respect and love to each other by learning each others traditions and cultures.”
Rukavishnikova will have her first solo exhibition with Kallashnikovv gallery in September of this year.