Interview
VAYA
Expression is a priority, a richness, and especially a sharing. From a very young age, VAYA was able to express herself in different areas, the most important being music and visual art. These two forms of expression have guided her through life, helping her build skills, acuities, and other unimaginable treasures.
Through the art of expression, there are numerous magical exchanges between parties. VAYA believes that artistic expression is a playful way of making each child grow in tolerance, communication, dreams, and ability to work together. It brings color to their own life and values.
Life is a gift and its expression is a rainbow.
What is your background and how did you start your journey?
“I’m a self-taught artist, and my mother is a fan of art, culture, and music. She helped me discover a lot, even through our travels. I was a silent kid with a rich inner universe, and I became a ‘child of expression’ very early on. I’ve always been really creative. I did a class in fashion drawing but didn’t get far. The teacher said I had nothing to learn as I already had my ‘print’.
Concerning my music, I started a classical lessons when I was 3 or 4 years old, where I focused on singing.”
What inspires you most?
“Everything inspires me: Mother Earth, my kids, the universe, the stars, charismatic people. The list is endless. My brain is rarely switched off.”
“To be an artist is to cultivate, share, and transmit one’s passion. To reach out to the younger ones and help them make their life one of quality and strength in the future.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The themes depend on my mood. I’m really eclectic, always on the move, just like life. I find painting very grounding.
A special collection of mine is the Child of Rock which is a tribute to charismatic musicians.
In music, the underlying message is to feel free to express yourself through love.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is powerful, spiritual, ecclectic, and stigmatizing.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I honestly don’t know. I would say God.”
What is your creative process like?
“I rely a lot on my intuition when creating.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Artists don’t need words to express their ideas. They express their thoughts and emotions through their work.
Before we discuss how artists are evolving in their role, let’s first define who an actual artist is.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, my exhibition planned for NYC was canceled. I then focused on my music.
In November of this year we will release a full vinyl album of three Discs + live performances in two different venues. We will also be shooting videos for two of our songs that belong to this album with a Japanese team managed by Yumi Sonoda. You can follow the progress on my Instagram.”
Website: www.vaya.am
Instagram: @vaya.am, @vaya.brutal
