Svetlana Ovinova: A Glimpse into the Soul of an Artist
Svetlana Ovinova: A Glimpse into the Soul of an Artist
Svetlana Ovinova is a vision of perfection, standing tall at two meters. This was my first thought when we met at a café for an interview. She embodies a harmonious blend of snowy beauty, a velvety voice, inner warmth, and a unique talent for creating mesmerizing watercolors. Svetlana brought her artwork to Belarus for the exhibition “From Lisbon through Minsk to Vladivostok,” which united artists from 25 countries.
Background
Svetlana Ovinova is an artist, graphic designer, and interior designer based in St. Petersburg. She graduated with honors from the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts in 2000. Since 1996, she has been an active participant in exhibitions. Since 2001, her professional scope has included interior design for shops, clubs, cafes, and private apartments. Her works are part of private collections in Russia and abroad, including Norway, Germany, Sweden, the USA, Canada, South Africa, Turkey, and more.
About the St. Petersburg Spirit
For me, a person from St. Petersburg is, first and foremost, a philosopher. Rather, a cat-philosopher who waits, observes diplomatically, and believes that everything will resolve itself. Neither the weather nor the history of St. Petersburg suggests any fireworks or outward displays of intense emotions. Yet, these emotions exist; they are simply hidden within. This is the essence of St. Petersburg.
Today’s frenetic pace of life leaves the St. Petersburg resident somewhat bewildered. The inherent restraint of the city and its people clashes with the breakneck speeds dictated by modern times. I observe people trying to keep up with this pace while maintaining their composure, hence the bewilderment.
About Women
For as long as I can remember, I have always admired women. In my youth, I was shy about drawing them, believing that women should be admired by men. However, the men who studied with me drew women mechanically, without any admiration. I was amazed at how they failed to see the exquisite turns of the head, the lines, the curls of hair, the “mother-of-pearl” quality, and the play of color on the skin! This is why I began to draw what I genuinely admire.
Once, I was asked to create something extraordinary for a modern-style home. I had studied the “Mir Iskusstva” period and Bakst’s costumes, but when I started the series of watercolor portraits, I realized I was drawing from within myself. A mysterious woman emerged: part St. Petersburg resident, part Parisian. Dressed in light costumes but with meticulous attention to every detail, down to each bead on the purse. I later reflected on why this series of watercolors was so unique and defining for my next creative phase. I realized that while creating it, I was in a happy state of pause.
When you’re caught up in the whirlwind of life, you fail to notice the world around you. Only a pause allows us to look around and understand how to reach a new level. If a person can afford this pause, they are ready to ascend to new heights. Plus, at that moment, I was living with my parents, feeling completely secure and with my inner boundaries intact. Only loved ones can provide this luxury: surrounding you with care while respecting your personal space.
About Space
I love organizing space. For me, the most important thing is that a person feels comfortable in their home. There was a case where I had to redo an apartment after a famous Moscow designer. I was called into the project with the words, “Svetlana, save us!” When I saw his work, I asked, “What does this designer want to change in HIS life?” They told me, “He wants a divorce.” “Do you want a divorce?” I asked the apartment owner. He said no, of course, and we redid almost everything.
Artists can exist in any atmosphere because they live within themselves. Other people need to express their inner world through their surroundings. Therefore, I pay close attention to the memories of people I help with interior design.
For some, that atmosphere of comfort and coziness is created by a grandmother’s checkered blanket; for others, it’s the color of their first love’s dress. If you can see this and embody it in the interior, the person will feel maximally comfortable.
About Art
Art comes from the word “artificial”: something made by humans, imbued with a piece of the creator’s soul. Art is when you approach something and suddenly feel an inner resonance, when vibrations pass through your body and soul, right here, in the very center. I would compare the process of creating art to sex.
It should neither be too quick nor too prolonged, and at the end, there should be an explosion of emotions, an orgasm, if you will. Then, in what you have created, there will be that piece of the soul, the emotion, the thought that evokes those very vibrations in others.
About the Artist
Even when I was studying at art school, every teacher said that a woman could either be an artist or get married. Art requires a lot of space and time, and your energy should not be given to loved ones. Otherwise, nothing will be created. It’s difficult to be in a family and in yourself simultaneously.
But love and loved ones are also an enormous and inexhaustible source of inspiration, especially when they believe in you and support you. So, everything works out for me.
How are artists born? I sat at home alone from the age of three. I refused to go to kindergarten. They took me there with tears for two weeks, and in the end, I won—the kindergarten remained in the past. Imagine a three-year-old child alone at home? I sat surrounded by books and albums, somewhere in my dreams, and tried to draw them. That’s how I became an artist. Therefore, it is very important for me to preserve this personal space.
Interviewed by Maria Stolyarova
Photo: Yulia Prudnikova
