Interview
Aleksandra de Pan
Aleksandra is a painter of Russian origin currently living in Florence, Italy. Thanks to its landmark art, culture, and nature, Florence has contributed to further develop her artistic vein.
Aleksandra’s work has been recognized by some of the sector’s leading critics. She has showcased her works at a number of exhibitions, both domestically as well as internationally.
Mirroring her own personality, Aleksandra is constantly looking for stimuli that leads her to experiment with new techniques and styles in her works.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Since I was a child, I’ve been an assiduous observer of all that is art. I remember at the age of 6 or 7, I came across a magazine in which there was an article dedicated to a young artist who, according to the author, painted in a style that was very similar to Pablo Picasso’s. This sparked a deep interest in me, so much so that I asked myself, ‘Who is Pablo Picasso and what is his style?’ It was then that I first discovered Picasso, and then became acquainted with Salvador Dalì, Joan Mirò and the other surrealists. I was madly in tune with the idea of the free juxtaposition of apparently disparate and absurd elements, and that was when surrealism became my dominant artistic style preference.”
What inspires you most?
“I think those who are creative and have an artistic soul have a real prerogative of being inspired by practically everything they see, or by everything that happens around them.”
“‘Aleksandra is in front of the canvas. She observes it in its size and emptiness. She begins to paint without a well-defined idea, guided by her own affinity and sensitivity, and always listening to her heart. Gradually, she completes her opera.’
This sequence is one of the most characteristic acts of the artist Aleksandra de Pan, whose passion for art and painting was evident from a very young age.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My artworks live through specific values, such as a spiritual journey, senses, and feelings. Each opera has its own unique and well-defined message which revolves around energy, power of mind, spiritual realisation, visible and invisible connections between different dimensions. For example, in opera ‘Out of ordinary towards freedom’, the essence of the work is the sense of freedom within each of us. This freedom is accessible to anyone who understands that there is no type of restriction. The sense that what divides the possible from the impossible is only created within us. It is up to everyone, through their own thoughts and instincts, to conceive a world out of the ordinary, free themselves from preconceptions, and embark on a journey back to the essence. Thus giving back to our soul its lightness and naturalness, recognizing that it is the instrument for passage from the invisible to the visible.”
How would you describe your work?
“My style converges elements of surrealism and expressionism, while my approach to painting mirrors the ‘high Renaissance’ instinct of following what is dictated by the heart. The result is unique works — heirs of the twentieth-century tradition of conceptual painting, and art full of hidden meanings, which challenges the observer to investigate the unknown.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I’m inspired by surrealism. I can’t really name a specific artist that influences me, but I can say that I admire the iconic artists such as Salvador Dalì, Pablo Picasso, Joan Mirò, and Rene Magritte. From the Renaissance period, I would name Leonardo da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli.”
What is your creative process like?
“My art can be defined as an intuitive creativity. Creative process follows the flow where I disconnect from the material world, but with a very precise knowledge of what is happening inside me. As a creative person, I would say I’m a mirror of everything that happens around me. Nature, energy, and subconscious feelings are expressed on the canvas.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Sometimes, we don’t have a sufficient understanding of ourselves, and of the power of our own thinking. We don’t feel strong enough to belong to a global community; a higher dimension which we are a part of. This is where art can be one of the tools that make a difference.
Art does not force or show people what to do. However on an unconscious level, art calls one to think. It has a strong influence on the human mind, and has the power to make us reflect.While contemplating and analyzing a work of art, we connect with our feelings and our mind. This perceived sensation can stimulate thought and, as a result, action. Most of us are familiar with the overflowing feeling when we contemplate a work of art. When we are touched, we are immersed in a new experience. We become aware of a feeling that may not be alien to us, but which we have not actively focused on before.
This transformation is the result of the strong power that art has to connect us to our senses, and to make the world feel.”
Website: www.aleksandradepan.com
Instagram: @aleksandradepan_art
