The art studio in Nádvorie has its first resident: What did Belarusian Serafím work on?
The cultural center has been organizing residencies for skilled artists from abroad for a long time. The most recent space was given to the Belarusian painter Serafím, who also got the opportunity to be the first tenant in the studio at Nádvorie. You will soon be able to meet him in person. He talks more about the event at which he will invite you to the studio and about his stay in Slovakia in this interview.
Seraphim, you are the first person ever to work in the studio at Nádvorie. How does it feel to be part of such a premiere?
I’m really proud that I’m the first resident here! Now I’m working in excellent conditions. But here it was unusual for me to start in a clean new space, because usually art studios are dirty, there is a mess everywhere etc. and these are the conditions that I was used to. Sorry, I don’t mean to say something bad, it is a good studio, it is something new for me and I really like it!
So how did you get used to this space?
Oh, it is a very good experience, because I have never been to such a long art residency, as well as abroad. And I really enjoy creating my art. The art studio here is bigger than mine in Minsk and I have a great opportunity to work in such a big space and paint very big artworks that I have not painted yet. All the stuff I needed was here and I started very quickly and also got used to it very quickly.
Can you tell us more about what you do in the studio, what you are working on?
Well, I’m actually a contemporary artist and painter. I usually work on big artworks and do a series in which I reflect on the topics I’m interested in. Now I’m working on the theme of loneliness and emptiness in which I’m reflecting on my social life and a little bit of the political situation in my region. First I started to work on some sketches in Minsk and arrived with some ideas and also I’ve done some sketches here. Then I started to paint my sketches on three big canvases and I will show them in the Open art studio.
If I’m not mistaken, you also found new friends at Nádvorie. How do you like this kind of socializing?
Yes, I met a lot of people in Malý Berlín and Kubik. Now I spend most of my time with people from Kubik because they are very close to me. Some weeks ago they invited me to a concert that they did and now I usually spend time with them.
We go for a coffee and smoke and I have a lot of interesting conversations. I can say that they are very kind and cute guys. But also I talk a lot with my coordinator Soňa and Lívia from Malý Berlín but unfortunately they are very busy. It’s cool that I also have conversations with Lívia in Polish to practice, because I’m learning it now.
Soon we will have an Open studio event here, where anyone who is interested in seeing your work will be able to meet you. Will it be a departure from your comfort zone?
It is an interesting question because I am always in the middle between being an introvert and being an extrovert. But also this is not my first experience in doing these events and I am always ready to have a lot of conversations with different people. But what I’m definitely awaiting is a quick coming and then quick leaving of positive emotions. This can happen even when an event is still going on.
Are you looking forward to this event?
I like the openings of exhibitions. Here I can meet a lot of interesting people. It is an artistic tradition and it’s very interesting for me to do it elsewhere that in Belarus or another country, I mean Poland and Lithuania, where the exhibitions are mostly attended by Belarusians or even only by them. Of course I’m looking forward to this experience!
Will you be preparing for this event in any special way?
Hmm, here I can say that all of this preparation is usual – music, wine, well hung paintings etc. It is the people who make this party really interesting and attractive, just people.
Tell me, how did you get here, to the residency organized by Malý Berlin?
My friend just sent me a link and I applied. But what I want to say is, that I was not expected this veeeeery huge amount of a different activities, concerts, events, etc. I admire it a lot! And also I want to thank you that there are still a lot of opportunities for Belarusians – I am really happy about it.
What did the two months spent in Trnava bring you?
Before this art residency I had never been abroad more than for a week. I feel a bit like an emigrant and feel everything that emigrant feels – language barrier, culture differences, climate differences… Some of these experiences are tragic and some are funny but it allows me to fully feel life and what is important for me is to fully concentrate on my artwork.
What was the purpose of your residency? Were you able to fulfill it?
The purpose was to paint some new works – now I’m at the end of fulfilling them and to make some experiments in my working process – that I’m not sure that I can fulfill. But the most interesting thing for me is to look for new acquaintances, wherever I go. It is not the most important purpose, usually it is the default purpose but when it happens a lot of energy comes to me and helps me also in my work.
In the past, Serafím was a student of graphic design, later he decided to be an independent artist. When he was 17 years old, he held his first exhibition at home. He studied at the Belarusian Academy of Arts. He came to Trnava for a two-month residency, during which he creates in a studio in the Nádvoria complex.
Ján Janočko Photo: Lívia Martvoňová