Interview
Giovina Brauer
Gio is a creator who uniquely blurs the lines between visual art and the written word. Her oils don’t just depict scenes; they paint emotions; her poetry doesn’t just describe; it gives voice to colour. Each piece is a personal conversation where literary rhythm and artistic form meet, inviting viewers to engage with art in a way that goes beyond mere observation. Gio’s work is a symphony of symbolism, dark romanticism, and layered narrative depth. Each brushstroke transforms the canvas into an emotional journey through love, loss, and transformation. In Gio’s hands, poetry and painting intertwine, evoking feelings that strike a deeply personal chord. Rooted in her rich Italian heritage, Gio infuses her art with vibrant hues and intricate symbolism, echoing the timeless beauty of Renaissance and Baroque influences. Her work’s themes of identity, passion, and nostalgia surface, capturing timeless moments and prompting reflection on the complexity of human experience. This influence enriches her art, making the audience feel culturally appreciative and enriched. More than a painter or poet, Gio is a storyteller whose every mark is a passage and each hue a verse. Her creations offer more than expression; they are kindness in form, colour, and movement. Through the spread of paint and the rhythm of her words, her art becomes a language of texture and tone - a gentle reminder that we are never truly alone in colour, light, and story. It is the heartbeat of human connection, the echo of hope, and the celebration of perseverance.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“As a self-taught visionary, my path into Fine Art and my journey into the art world were not conventional - these visions are fueled by intuition, exploration, and an unshakable desire to create. Though I integrated fashion design and graphic design into my process, earning my degree from the University of the Fraser Valley, my artistic instincts were always part of my creative world, pushing me beyond digital composition into the tangible, powerful oil painting medium. With a background as a self-taught fashion designer and interior designer and a degree in graphic design, I developed an eye for balance, movement, and aesthetic harmony that has always been part of my natural process.
Yet, it was in fine art that I found my authentic voice. Without formal training in painting, I carved my own path as a self-taught oil painter, embracing an intuitive process that bridges dreamlike visions with deep symbolism. Drawing inspiration from dark romanticism and surrealism, my work embodies themes of transformation, hidden realms, and the timeless emotions of love and loss. Each piece reflects my inner world - snapshots of fleeting visions stored within my mind until they are ready to manifest on canvas. At the core of my work, I feel, is about connection and discovery. I invite viewers to enter a world of imagination where colours and textures tell stories beyond words. Within the many layers of oil paint, creating portals of my personal memories and symbolic landscapes, allowing each painting to resonate uniquely with the observer. Ultimately, my journey is one of self-discovery and expression; every brushstroke invites viewers into my world - a place where memories merge with imagination, symbolism speaks louder than words, and art becomes a universal language of emotion in the many veils we wear of love and loss.”
What inspires you?
“The word 'inspiration' is a spontaneous constant in my world, always leaving me wanting more. I draw on the beauty of Mother Nature, the rhythm of my walks with my dog Emma, and the often-overlooked details of daily life. These are the unspoken words I gather from the world around me, making my journal and poetry a part of my everyday life and its ever-changing tapestry of beauty. Mother nature's landscape has become a constant source of inspiration, profoundly connecting me to the darker worlds I live in daily, bringing light and inspiration to the forefront of creating. Writing and painting, a form of expression and inspiration daily, has always been my solace. This comforting language I speak is a medium that transforms my thoughts into tangible expressions on canvas. Delving into the depths of love and loss inspires me to create. The beauty of words and the act of painting light up my world in ways I can't imagine, filling me with hope and inspiration. This comfort found in writing is reassuring; guiding me through life's ups and downs enables me to paint the portals of imagery that bring my work closer to reality as an artist who cannot live without inspiration and words.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My paintings are deeply rooted in themes of my memories and transformations of the mind's hidden realms—a reflection of personal experiences and universal narratives. I draw from rich symbolism and layered compositions through light and shadow to explore the tensions between the known and the unknown, reality, dreams, and past and present, leading us through the ever-evolving world of love and loss. I have always been deeply drawn to dark Romanticism and surrealism themes, mysteries of nostalgic elements that weave through my paintings. My paintings carry many hidden messages that secretly unfold as the viewer immerses themselves in the mystery of details. Every brushstroke is deliberate yet intuitive - an attempt to capture fleeting moments of insight and emotion before they slip away.
At its core, my work is about connection and discovery. I invite viewers to enter my world of imagination, where colours and textures tell stories beyond words. Through thin layers of oil paint, I can create vibrant portals that emerge into personal memories, dreams and symbolic landscapes, allowing each painting to resonate uniquely with the observer. Ultimately, my paintings have many underlying messages, reflecting on transformation - a testament to my enduring love of creativity and how our experiences shape us. Intertwining symbols and emotions from the past, I seek to create paintings that inspire and feel intensely personal yet universally understood, urging viewers to engage with their hidden narratives through my world of love and loss and storytelling within my work.”
How would you describe your work?
“My artwork, created primarily with oil paints, is a journey through memory, symbolism, and transformation. It reflects childhood memories reimagined through colour, texture, and storytelling. Each piece carries the essence of ordinary moments - time spent in the garden with my mother, fleeting glimpses of sunlight, the hushed whispers of nature - transformed into vibrant, layered compositions that invite viewers into a dreamlike realm. Painting is my language, a bold yet intuitive dialogue between memory and imagination. I constantly store experiences of delicate artifacts in my mind, revisiting them only when they are ready to emerge on the canvas. Some visions linger for years, waiting for the perfect moment to take shape. Through sweeping strokes and intricate details, my work unveils hidden meanings - echoes of the past, emotions suspended in time, and symbols that bridge history and personal narrative. This is always an intimate invitation at the core of my artistic passion, drawing the viewer closely into my world of sentiments and daydreams, a self-reflection. Layering oil paints allows me and my memories to take on a new form of life, evolving from private recollections into universal stories. Each piece is a testament to the timelessness of my artistic expression and the enduring power of human connection.”
Which artists influence you most?
“My creative work can be deeply inspired by the visionaries who came before me and who transcend conventional artistic boundaries - artists who weave symbolism, transforming dreamlike storytelling into their creations. Figures like Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington, Max Ernst, and my favourite, Caravaggio, are notable. I seem to understand the worlds they are connected to, the inner dialogue they are speaking within themselves, and the endless possibilities that resonate with me, each contributing to my understanding of art as a narrative and emotional experience that fantastic worlds can create. Like Varo and Carrington's work, I am always inspired to traverse through my hidden realms, where memory and imagination intertwine behind the different veils of my mind. Ernst's textural landscapes, with their intricate symbolism and surreal experimentation, influence how I approach storytelling through visual art.
Although these artists provide a foundation of inspiration, my work is a distinct expression of my personality and inner dark worlds. With their intricate symbolism and experimentation, inner visions and ever-evolving narratives that inspire me to innovate. Through thin layers of oil, my paintings and symbolic imagery inspire me to create dreamlike compositions that explore themes of memory introspection and transformation, inviting viewers to sincerely interpersonal yet universally resonate spaces. Ultimately, my art is a conversation between past and present love, loss of influence, and innovation. It is shaped by the lessons of those who came before me, but it continues to evolve - an ever-unfolding journey of discovery and expression through love and loss of my personal narrative.”
“My artwork, created primarily with oil paints, is a journey through memory, symbolism, and transformation.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process is often deeply intuitive and layered. I blend memory, symbolism, and emotion into colourful compositions. I store everyday moments - fleeting glimpses of light, textures, and personal experiences - in a mental vault, where they are preserved and allowed to evolve through introspection and contemplation before they emerge on the canvas in any form. My approach is a harmonious blend of spontaneity and discipline. Sketching ideas comes naturally, but often, I hold onto visions for years, waiting for the right moment to bring them to life. When I begin a painting, I work in layers of oil paint, using bold strokes to establish movement and delicate details to refine meaning. My work is mentally guided by inner visions and insights, exploring themes of dark romanticism transformation and hidden realms. Each painting is a personal journey, carrying a symbolic message that unveils themes of love and loss and narratives that transcend the timeline of my personal history. The interplay of light and shadow and how the rich textures of surreal elements reinforce my idea that art is both fleeting and eternal - a reflection of life’s complexities through love and loss.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist's role in society and evolution has always been influential, carrying our inner stories across generations and preserving rich traditions and memories. Art can and will always ensure that our unique perspectives are seen, which might otherwise fade in the ever-changing landscape of our world's perception. It can also be seen as an eternal gateway within us to foster growth and understanding. As artists, we often use our work to highlight societal issues, provoke thought, and ignite change within our identities. Sparking conversations about helping others see differently and fostering growth within themselves. However, not all art is created equal, nor are the people who make art; this is not just a societal mirror; it can also be deeply personal, offering many benefits to the creator and the viewer moments of introspection, connection, and healing. These are the moments of experimentation where we genuinely understand the power of art. More than that, artists foster community, identity, and belonging, uniting people through shared experiences and expressions of culture, making art a deeply subjective and integral part of everyday life and how we understand each other.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Having my work showcased in the Liquid Group exhibition at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello in Venice by ITSLIQUID Group was an incredible opportunity to present my artistic vision to an international audience. Sadly, I could not attend this exhibition in person; my paintings travelled far to be part of a vibrant exchange among talented contemporary artists, contributing to a broader dialogue on transformation, symbolism, and immersive storytelling was part of this exciting exchange. Venice's rich artistic heritage excited me, especially since I am of Italian descent. This landscape would be a perfect backdrop for my paintings, which explore themes of memory, hidden realms, and introspection. Through multiple layers of oil paint, inspiring colours, and thoughtful composition, my art resonated with the exhibition's focus on fluidity in form and creative concepts, enhanced by the city's magnificence and the artists who have made a legacy a world in written history. Seeing my pieces exhibited in such a stunning setting, even from a distance, reinforced my belief that nature is universal and timeless landscapes are artistic expressions, which allowed this milestone in my work to engage with viewers beyond artistic borders, sparking conversations and connections through shared emotional landscapes of love and loss in a remarkable location. The feedback particularly moved me from viewers who found resonance in the emotional depth of my work, leading to personal reflections and meaningful discussions.”
Website: gpollieana.com
Instagram: @gpollieana
