Interview
Veronika Sarma
Veronika Sarma is an abstract artist, residing in France, with more than 15 years of artistic and 11 years of exhibition activity. Her artworks have been awarded prizes in exhibitions and competitions of Abstract, Avant-garde and Experimental Art more than 30 times in 9 countries: UAE, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Poland, France, Latvia, Russia, Belarus, including the New Tretyakov museum. She is an honorable member of the international Eurasian Art Union, and the Creative Union of Artists since 2015. In total, there are about 110 artworks and 90 diplomas in the collection since 2008. Four paintings by Veronika Sarma were sold as part of charity auctions in the USA and worldwide, one painting, “Face” was donated to a hospice, some artworks were gifted to celebrities as Miss Universe Oksana Fedorova. One of the paintings "Eternal" (graphics) has been in the main fund of the Museum of Modern Art since 2018. Veronika created and conducted her author art-therapy classes for kids and elders.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“At the age of 18, I started to be a model for a classical artist, spending many hours at her workshop and helping at the exhibitions. Like this I was involved in the artistic atmosphere and became aware of different techniques and styles. After a few years in 2008, at the age of 20, I created one small painting, “The Beginning” with paper and aquarelle in my recognised abstract technique. For that moment, it was a matter of art therapy, emotional self healing. My painting started as the action of escaping from the world and discovering inner fantasies and feelings. For that, I’ve been an abstract artist since the beginning and was rejecting learning and analyzing my art to keep it as the instrument of my freedom in life. After a few years more, in 2010, I discovered the vanguard art of 1920-1930th famous artists, which opened my eyes on the style I was following. So, for me the art path has always been intuitive first, and educating myself, discovering museums and collections worldwide - was the next step.”
What inspires you?
“Different emotions and impressions from people, events, places. The insight about the next painting comes very suddenly, usually, I just imagine the picture and idea and directly want to fulfill it. It might have no correlation with my life or the place I’m currently in. The important state is to be in resource or, on the contrary, stressed and unhappy. I have my inspiration and fulfillment from visiting abstract art exhibitions and museums.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The message of all my paintings is the beauty beneath all forms, colors, techniques. Whatever I do as an experiment, I feel beauty and inspiration while creating my new artwork. The temptation, the passion that has been with me for over 15 years, leads me to express my vision and energy to the world, to leave a material and spiritual imprint. Whatever makes me happy while processing, I share with people to give them the impulse for the bright feelings and shift from the regular-based mindset.”
“The message of all my paintings is the beauty beneath all forms, colors, techniques.”
How would you describe your work?
“Passionate, silent, introversive, childish, pure, inspiring and true.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali, Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, Robert Delaunay, Paul Klee, Mark Rothko and Aleksandra Ekster.”
What is your creative process like?
“Visioning, impulse, inspiration, arranging my space and supplement materials, and focusing to the max. I can spend hours painting without distractions. Some paintings are created fast; in 3 to 4 days, even several hours - in expressive technique in the past, though some of the paintings are done for 3-6 months, traveling with me, while I’m waiting for the impulse to be finished and the experience to be gained for fulfilling them.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“The artist in society is a child, rebel, free spirit, explorer, open mind and loud voice to speak. An artist is a philosopher crying on the sorrows of people and the imperfections of this world, and a kind magician, creating an alternative reality, spreading inspiration and impulse for a change. It’s a mirror and reflection of humanity and the epoch. We cannot be the artists of different eras and stay as modern people in society. Even though many viewers compared my style with 1920-30th, I see a lot of difference already and the influence of the 21st century on me, my emotions, my state of mind, my sorrows and, accordingly, on art.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“The artworks have been awarded prizes in exhibitions and competitions of Abstract, Avant-garde and Experimental Art more than 30 times in 9 countries: UAE, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Poland, France, Latvia, Russia, Belarus, including the New Tretyakov museum in Moscow. I've been an honorable member of the international Eurasian Art Union, and the Creative Union since 2015. In total, there are about 110 artworks and 90 diplomas in the collection since 2008. One of the paintings "Eternal" (graphics) has been in the main fund of the Museum of Modern Art since 2018. In 2024 I’m taking part in big art exhibitions in Paris, London, Rome, Milano, Madrid and looking to explore new cities and galleries.”
Instagram: @art.vsarma
Brush Bio: www.brush.bio/artvsarma
