11 Questions with Vian Borchert

Vian Shamounki Borchert is an award-winning contemporary expressionist artist.

V. Borchert has exhibited in many group and solo exhibitions nationally within the US and internationally. The National Gallery of Art in Amman, Jordan, has her artwork in their permanent collection. Vian is a graduate and “Notable Alumni” from the Corcoran College of Art and Design George Washington University, Washington, DC. Vian considers her expressionistic and abstracted art as visual poems.

Vian Borchert’s art has been on exhibit in prestigious places such as the United Nations General Assembly’s Public Lobby Gallery, NYC, and in “Art Basel Miami Beach” Spectrum Miami, 1stdibs Design Center in Chelsea, NYC.

Borchert is represented by galleries in major world cities such as NYC, LA, and the DMV area. Borchert’s art has been featured in many press such as The Washington Post, Metro Weekly magazine, Elan magazine, Artist Portfolio Magazine, D’art International Magazine, ART PLUGGED, The Miami Art Scene, Culture Capital, Northern Virginia magazine, The Town Courier, Culture Spot MC, The Huffington Post, The Washington Diplomat, The Gazette, DC Modern Luxury magazine, NPR’s Art Beat, Maniera District magazine and others.

Vian is also an art educator teaching fine art classes in Maryland, USA.

www.vianborchert.com | @vianborchert

 ARTIST STATEMENT

I am an expressionist artist, I consider all my work to be visual poems.
For me nature is very important and plays a very essential role in my life. Thus, I am a nature lover - mother nature is my sanctuary and my ultimate solace. I am an avid nature observer, and contemplating upon nature helps me reach inner peace and attain moments of zen.

My artwork albeit abstract in nature offers symbolism referencing the status of a mysterious future and how life is such a precious commodity. My artwork also showcases a sense of identity of who I am as an artist: my hopes, my aspiration, and my dreams.
Consequently, the work becomes a bridge of reflection and connection to the past, present along with a sense of wonder to what the future holds.

INTERVIEW

In your youth, when did you realize that you were going to become an artist? 

For me, as far as I can remember, I wanted to be an artist. There was even no questioning the matter – I simply knew it. Born into an artists' family, I felt my genetic making made me a born artist. It wasn't a choice for me – I feel it is in my blood.

You have been quoted: "My paintings showcase a sense of identity of who I am as an artist." How do you define yourself as an artist?

 I define myself as a unique creative visionary and a pioneer of art direction. I also define myself as a thinker, an explorer, inventor, and innovator in the art form. For me, one of the wonders of creating art is in the explorations of art through digging into the depth of it. The more one explores, the more one discovers who they are as a person and a sense of identity and purpose in life. I almost have a scientific approach to art; I dissect, I explore, and I create. Thus, the soul search exploration ends with a creation that is very much me representing my identity.

We are curious to hear the story behind your expressionism abstract paintings...

Ever since I was young, I would draw figurative and portrait drawings that capture the expression, be it happy or sad. I have always been intrigued by the psychology and mood of the setting and made it a point to be as honest as I can be that the artwork I present ends up expressive and effective.

I was primarily a figurative artist. For years, I painted the figure in an expressionist way. I had models and friends sit for me. I would depict not only their look but their expression as well. I was more interested in their expression than creating a realistic resemblance of their look. If the models were somber and sad or happy or mad, the painting would end up in that direction. Working with the figure for so many years and focusing on the expression, I believe I easily created a transitional path into the abstract art world. Therefore, an abstract expressionist painting of mine aims to capture the mood and ambiance of an abstracted theme or setting. For example, I love being by the sea, and I love the color blue. Hence, my latest paintings that were done during COVID-19 and in confinement are reminiscent of my love for being by the sea. Thus, recent paintings such as "Over Seas" capture a longing for travel and adventure along with nostalgia of a time not so long ago.

Consequently, the paintings, in a way, become an expressive mirror of my feelings. Although the paintings are abstract, they are symbolic references to my emotions through color choice, brush strokes, and shapes, allowing the composition to come together in the creation of an expressionist painting. Finally, the titles help expand the narratives of the artwork.

The story behind the creation of the abstract paintings is due to a trip to the South of France. On a ride between Nice and Antibes, we stopped by a beach to look at the Mediterranean sea. While sitting admiring the beautiful aqua turquoise blues of the Mediterranean amid the laughter of children swimming and splashing and people are relaxing by the sea - I stood there taking in the beauty of that simple moment that captured joy. While I was looking at the vast sea that laid ahead of me, I made a sharp turn of 180° degrees to look at what was behind me... Lo and behold, I saw the Alps. In that specific moment, caught between the drastic terrain of mountains and sea, I declared that I have to create abstracted paintings based on my vision. No time to be shy anymore; let the world see what is inside of me!

Do you have a role model that you've drawn inspiration from when working as a painting artist? Tell us more about your source of inspiration…

 I have many inspirations, and sometimes the inspiration also changes. For me, nature is the biggest source of inspiration, along with the sources of light in our lives, such as the sun, the moon, and how they reflect light. So, sunrises, sunsets, moonlight, and twinkling stars are all essential to me on seeing a changing world through every source of light. As for artists, I admire so many in regards to their work and artistic styles. Yet, if I have to pinpoint a specific artist, I would say Claude Monet would be the closest to me not in his style but his character and approach to art. I have studied Monet, and I found that we are kindred spirits in our love for the outdoors and capturing the impression + expression of light through art. I have especially attracted to the way Monet brings-forth the sense of light to almost every painting he painted. This I believe, is where his true genius lies in his brilliant capture of light as it falls on different surfaces and textures, be it broken, soft, or foggy. His approach to such a matter makes him the master that he is.

What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?

 Over and over again, I find myself being very careful about my color choices - of how much of a certain color or how little of it should be used. I am drawn to the color blue due to my love for the ocean and the sky. I do love blue in all of its hues! Also, I am very particular about making sure the correct brush strokes are implemented. I like firm, strong and honest brush strokes to be a factor in almost all of my artwork. I believe this backtrack to my identity and the expressive look that I aim to bring forth in the artwork. I also love light and seek to capture it in almost every painting. Light is essential to me as an artist. 

What does your art aim to say to the viewers?

 The message that I aim to transcribe to the viewers through my art is to stop and have a good look while allowing yourself to be immersed within your imagination to the deep blues of my oceans - Allow yourself to sail from one wave to another and eventually fly up towards the sunlight and even the moonlight. My aim with the latest paintings is to convey feelings of rejuvenation and even happiness to the hearts and minds of the viewers through a poetic visual journey.

Tell us about the colors on your palette and anything new you have been experimenting with.

 I believe every viewer can guess what is my favorite color by simply looking at my artwork. :) The color blue with all its tones and hues by far is my most favorite. I purchase a good number of paint tubes since I don't like to start a painting and find myself running out of a specific color – it breaks the creative mood. Yet, I also do consider myself a chemist of some sort. I believe the best and most brilliant colors are the ones that the artist mixes. Lately, I find myself gravitating towards the color red, and I have presented it in some of my latest work, such as "Identity" and "Sailing The Red Seas." It is a strong and powerful color – to use red is to create a statement.

There's a lot of paintings on the market these days; how do you differentiate yours from the rest? What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?

 I have been doing art for decades. Many of the creations and specific looks and styles that I presented in my earlier artwork have become my work's signature. When I started doing abstracts, I wanted to create abstracts that were never seen before or that I want to see when I visit a museum. I wanted my abstracts to reflect my very own aesthetics of things I like, such as colors, strokes, techniques – I wanted my vision and world to come-forth with the production of such works. When I first started doing abstractions, I glanced around the art scene where most artists were doing almost studies of Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning (artists that I admire greatly). I did not want that for myself - I wanted to make abstracts like Vian Borchert. After all, what is the point of making art if not to create your own and express yourself? Thus, I set upon myself to be the painter that I am and present my unique vision in an abstracted painterly expressive style strong on color and emotions. By presenting my work to the outside world little, did I know that in a sense, I have created almost my own art movement and a new one by chance. Consequently, my abstract artwork created almost a domino effect and created new art trends within the art world that I did not have foreseen when I started abstractions. Hence, in my humble opinion, I feel that my abstract style has effectively changed the current contemporary abstract art scene to a more modern one. So, I'd like to say that I am a pioneer of some-sort of abstract looks that were birthed from my imagination.  

There are indeed many artworks on the market – a lot of artwork but not enough artists, by which I mean a true artist by definition is one who creates their own works, and not be a clone and make derivative samples of what is trending. Thus, a truly creative, innovative artist has always been a rarity not only in the olden times of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo but in our days as well. Thanks to social media, the hard work that, let's say I debut, can be partially copied by someone on the other side of the world without my knowledge and even sold or put online without credit and attribution to the original artist. This is one of the problems of our current modern art world where things turn into a salad. Yet, I do firmly believe true authentic art always shines in the midst of any darkness. People are inherently smart, and they know what is authentically good when they see it.

Lately, we often hear and talk about the impact of virtuality on the way we present ideas and artworks. How do you engage your art with the new trends of technologies?

 Honestly, I am a dreamer regardless of the times we live in – I try to be who I am in a world I would like to call mine. Meaning, I aim to evolve as much as I can. Although I am aware that the more one puts oneself out there – the less privacy one has. 

Yet, due to the COVID times, I have to put myself out there to give others through my art a sense of calm and peace.

What other interests do you have outside of art?

 Besides art, I like to cook. I find cooking to be an art form by itself. Yet, art is my first love. I do find the process of making food and cooking to be relaxing.

Can I visit your studio?

Sure.