10 Questions with Paulina Bilska
Paulina Bilska is a Polish girl from the 90s who lives and works in Italy. Since she was a teenager, she has found something special in visual arts, music, and dance. She has been attracted by this creative flow that every artist has had to go through, trying to find something in their works that could lead to their own soul and heart.
Her first experience as an artist started in 2020, during the pandemic when she felt the need to express her feelings through something. She started photographing the landscape near her home, focusing her eyes on natural patterns, irregularities, and shapes. In 2021 she completed a collection of 30 fine art prints, hand-finished with gold leaf and framed in natural wood.
After spending most of her time working as an event specialist, with a methodical and very organized approach, she decided to experience the opportunity to share with other people what was going on in her creative mind. Self-taught and with a particular taste, she tries to improve her glazes every day to achieve the perfect way of expressing herself. She is currently working on a new collection of photographs hand-finished with gold leaf, whose main theme will be flowers.
She decided to sign her works as Paulina B.
Paulina Bilska portrait
ARTIST STATEMENT
Art is, to her, a form of magic - A moment, a thought, a feeling, an emotion, transformed into something unique and different. It is another way to communicate with the world through the deepest part of our souls. It is simply spectacular what a work of art can give to a person; it's so deep and intimate that sometimes other people cannot understand. Natural patterns, colors, lights, shadows, and flower bouquets are her main source of inspiration. They are the ideal combination of vibes where you can try to find your own.
Natural Shapes, Ten Sand 10/10 (framed), 2021 © Paulina Bilska
Limited edition art collectors’ book
INTERVIEW
First of all, tell us how you started your art career. When did you start getting involved with visual arts, and how?
I don't know exactly where it all started; ever since I was a teenager, I have been attracted to the visual arts. I remember a wonderful moment during a school trip to Paris when I found myself completely lost in front of Monet's painting in the Musée d'Orsay. I was the last one to leave the museum, and my teacher was insistently looking for me. Another good memory I have is my first Andy Warhol exhibition in Rome on a cold and windy Sunday. It was one of those days when the weather was bad, the day was boring, and I felt the need to be alone, but instead of sitting on my couch, I decided to visit this exhibition and deeply experience all the works on display. I have always considered art and creativity as a gift and never thought that it could be something I might have inside. During my 20s, I embraced photography, trying to capture moments and memories in a frame, keeping them with me forever. The beginning of my 30s gave me the strength to explore this side of me, focusing my mind on my favourite subjects. Like anything new, I still can't think of myself as an "artist"; my career is starting now, and I don't know where it will take me, if anywhere or nowhere. But trying to take my "career" more seriously might be the first step to considering myself more seriously as an artist as well.
How did the Covid pandemic influence you to start producing art?
The period of the Covid pandemic was a crucial turning point in my life. Working from home in my previous job was a normal thing. I wasn't afraid of it, but I realized that not seeing some people and not having any kind of face-to-face confrontation was an important sign that opened my eyes and made me think about their real intentions. The pandemic period allowed me to go on the fast lane and leave some situations that I had intended to leave before but without knowing when. During this period, I began to realize that my work was not satisfactory enough, that something was missing in my life and my soul. I had time to think about everything, without any kind of interruption or distraction. And it was during this time that I took some of the photos for my very first art project, 'Natural Shapes'.
Natural Shapes, Ten Sand 5/10 (framed), 2021 © Paulina Bilska
How would you define yourself as an artist, and what is your personal aim?
As I said before, I can't call myself an artist yet because I'm still trying to figure out how I can be an artist. But, assuming I can be an artist, I can tell you that my only purpose is to make people feel something. It can be a good feeling, a bad feeling, a sad thought, a good thought, something that makes you angry or takes you into the dark. It doesn't matter because each of us is unique, different and needs to express what our feelings are. I remember exactly the moment when I showed a friend my first 'Natural Shapes' photos as a preview. She was captivated, and felt anxious but also protected. She was curious to catch a vibration in them, and this vibration exploded into tears. I was standing in front of her and didn't know exactly what to do. I am one of those people who reach for a tissue when someone is crying without saying anything kind. But when I was looking in my bag for a Kleenex, I was surprised by this reaction because it was 'caused' by my work, and it was incredible. And this came before any explanation. I didn't have time to share my point of view about my work. Everything came naturally: she looked at them and felt something. For me, that is the purpose of every art project. I have always thought of this as the fundamental on which my works will be built. Whenever I go to an art exhibition, I like to play a game: "What would you take with you from this room?". And I stare at the centre, I look around, trying to catch what represents me at that moment and what could be a perfect piece to look at on my own, in my place. It all happens naturally, without knowing who the artist is and what the interpretation is. One day I would like to be the choice of someone who plays the same game. That is my goal.
What is your creative process like? Where do you draw inspiration from and how do you translate it into your work?
I like to think of the "creative process" and "inspiration" as the guests you didn't expect on a Friday night you would have spent alone on a sofa. They come when they please, according to the colourful right side of your brain! And for a person like me, who is very organised and has a well-planned life, it is really strange! I was hit by 'sudden inspiration' during an architecture exhibition in Prague a few months ago. While all the people were quite interested in the exhibition, I walked by the walls like a crazy person because the light projection was much more interesting than anything else. I started taking pictures, driven by this internal feeling that was so hard to stop. I said to myself, "Hello Ms Intuition! Welcome!"
It's something so unpredictable that it sometimes leaves me helpless and bewildered, especially when it doesn't come when you're expecting it. But I'm learning to think that it's natural and should be that way. The creative process could be even worse and more difficult than intuition because the meaning of your feelings has to come out of them in a way that is only yours. During my 'Natural Shapes' project, the creative process was not straightforward; first of all, I was not sure about the post-production of the images. Secondly, I wasn't sure if a touch of hand-finishing would be the best way to express what I was thinking. So many doubts and question marks. Then, one day, I threw all the pictures on the floor, put on my shuffle playlist, and started drawing on them what I really wanted to see in them at that moment. I realized that I don't need to push myself, that rest days are the best days to clear my mind, and also that music can be very useful, as with so many other things in my life. So now I live with this vision.
Natural Shapes, Ten Sand 8/10, 24,1x32,9 cm, 2021 © Paulina Bilska
Natural Shapes, Ten Waves 1/10, 24,1x32,9 cm, 2021 © Paulina Bilska
Your work merges photography and abstract art. What message do you want to convey?
The decision to combine fine art and abstract art photos came up quite early on during the post-production process. Maybe it's not very polite to say, but I'm quite annoyed by all the landscape photographs seen on social media/web. We are surrounded by so many images of waves, sand details, or water drops on leaves that I decided to avoid this kind of subject, trying to create something more different. It was one of the firmest decisions I made during the creative process; immediately, I said to myself, "OK, focus, I don't want to be another 'sea photo author' who puts his signature in the middle". So, I tried to find a way to share my message beyond photography. Ever since I was a child, I was raised with the concept that we should stand out from others during our lives because diversity and different points of view are the most beautiful aspects of humanity. So, even in this new field, I looked for that "click" that activated the machine of my customization.
How did you come up with this idea and how do you choose the mediums to use?
When I took all 30 pictures of the collection, I wasn't sure how to edit them and explain what I was thinking while I was taking them. Once I defined the first impression of the photo as dark and mysterious, I needed to add a sparkle of hope and illusion. I had to think about something powerful but fragile simultaneously, and the digital post-production wasn't enough to transmit this message. So I decided to use gold, ancient and strong, bright and arrogant; using it as a leaf was the perfect combination of the vibe that I was looking for. The golden lines represent the gaze that merges with the natural landscape around us; it is strong and passionate but also fractured and irregular. It's something that we control at the moment but not all over the years because we don't know if it will be there or not. The gold leaf added a little bit of light, illuminating the road of all these deep and heavy shapes. It helps to let us feel part of the natural choreography of the photo.
Natural Shapes, Ten Waves 9/10 (framed), 2021 © Paulina Bilska
What was the most challenging part of your project?
I have to be honest, I did not experience very challenging parts during the evolution of my project. After a bit of doubt about the first assembly and the results that could come out of mixing the arts, everything else was good. The printing paper chosen was right, the gold leaf used was just as I expected. Also, the wooden frames were very nice because they ticked all the required boxes. I think the most challenging part was believing in the project, convincing myself that it could be something serious and not just a hobby.
That was the hardest and most confusing part because it made me doubt my creativity and my right to call it an "art project". I was afraid to tell people about it and kept it a secret for months because I wasn't ready to expose myself outside my comfort zone in different guises. But after a few chats with a few friends, I convinced myself that maybe it was worth trying because we only have one life, and we need to experience new things that can take us somewhere else. It was worth a try, and it's still worth believing in.
What do you hope that the public takes away from your work?
As I mentioned earlier, I do not have a specific expectation of what I would like people to pick up from my works. The only thing I hope is that they will be able to grasp my admiration for the forms through the images, and they will also be able to immerse themselves in their sinuous movements and light and shadow.
In the fullest sense of their interpretative freedom, I would like them to find what inspires them most in my works, releasing their ideas from my perception. And if we agree on the interpretation of sensations, what can I say? Then that would be a beautiful coincidence.
Natural Shapes, Ten Sand 9/10, 24,1x32,9 cm, 2021 © Paulina Bilska
Natural Shapes, Ten Plants 7/10, 24,1x32,9 cm, 2021 © Paulina Bilska
What is your opinion of the growing importance that the digital world has on contemporary art? Did you take part in any online exhibition or experiment with NFTs?
I have to be honest. I don't know much about the NFT universe and have never participated in any digital exhibitions. As much as I am fascinated by the evolution of technology and benefit from it day after day, I realize that for some things, I still can't get used to it easily. I realize that digital has played a key role in many areas, especially during the pandemic period, and, above all, has enabled many to continue their activities through a screen. However, this does not take away from the fact that I believe that some sectors are penalized by digital, including art. I believe that there is nothing more beautiful than admiring an opera, a ballet, a play, or a concert live, not only because it is certainly more effective but also because of the spirit and the sensations experienced at that moment. Of course, in the modern world in which we live, we have to keep up with the times to reach as many people as possible; digital exhibitions are certainly effective and open many doors, but I don't feel ready to take this road yet.
And lastly, what are you working on right now and what are your plans for the future?
This is a very busy time because, besides my art projects, I am renovating an office to create a small creative studio for myself and maybe share with other people.
I am working on two collections of fine art photographs: the first one (previously described) is the result of the project born in Prague and inspired by the lights inside an exhibition hall. The second one is inspired by flowers, another of my favourite subjects. During some rainy and cold days, I focus on painting and trying to complete a collection of colourful and joyful canvases called "She's a rainbow".
I am quite excited about all these new things because they are part of a new chapter in my life that gives me hope for a better future, full of creativity and love for what I do every day.
