10 Questions with Polina Kniaz-Petukhovsky

Polina Kniaz-Petukhovsky is a young female artist hailing from Dubai, whose creative endeavors delve into the exploration of hidden human emotions and internal imagery. In her artistic expression, Polina seamlessly intertwines the profound and intricate realm of sexuality, employing vivid colors and surrealistic forms to bring her vision to life on canvas.

Polina employs painting techniques such as Successive colours and Alla prima, which give her artwork a distinctive texture and depth.

kniazpetukhovsky.com | @kniazart

INTERVIEW

First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. What first inspired you to become an artist, and how did your creative journey begin?

My name is Polina Kniaz-Petukhovski, and I am a visual artist. Well, I can call myself a visual artist for about one year or so. It was a long, fascinating journey to get to this point.
At first, my parents forced me to go to a drawing school when I was six years old. I wouldn't say I liked it. But I loved drawing. I drew throughout the lessons at general school; I pissed off all my teachers. However, I did not have any inspiring examples of artists who became successful not after their death. I grew up in a small town; the Internet was starting to develop at that time. I had no information about modern and contemporary art and its stars. So, I had a long way to study and work in marketing. But it has always been my dream to become an artist. And if you are meant for something in this life, it will finally push you towards it.

How did you develop into the artist you are today? What training or experiences helped you along the way?

It would be funny to say, but the decision to go to a therapist and develop sensitivity and sensuality significantly influenced my creativity. I started to meditate, I started to go out and meet people, and I began to mention their emotions, states, conditions, preconditions, and the complexity of their feelings. I started to be friends with mighty women, and they amaze me. So it was a journey inside and outside, so to speak.

You are currently living in Dubai. How does this city influence your work, if at all? Does the city or culture inspire any specific aspects of your art?

I love my friend's saying that Dubai is the best place for the inner practice of acceptance and willpower. It can be overwhelming with overconsumption and consumerism, where you are constantly assessed based on your looks. Dubai is a live version of Instagram, where flawless women and handsome men meet to do some business. But it is only the cover. Dubai is a city of contrasts, richness, and poverty, lifeless sands, and green areas that demand a lot of care and work. I admire the persistence of the land rulers; every year, this city becomes more and more attractive.
However, some cultural aspects require my attention. I cannot exhibit some of my paintings here as they would be considered to have sexual content, which is not allowed. I depict parts of human bodies as natural and inseparable, but I respect the local policy and bring such work to Europe.

Speaking of your work. What is your creative process like? And how does it change based on the medium you use?

It is like a flood I cannot get rid of, so I lead it. I rarely make drafts; I start drawing on the canvas. Sometimes, I do not even have an idea or an image inside; I just have the feeling of what process I am in. In terms of medium, I use oil paints for detailed and thoughtful painting and watercolours to express myself rapidly and passionately.

Your work explores hidden human emotions. How do you approach expressing such personal and internal feelings through your art?

I do not think; I feel. I feel myself, other people, and the world around me. I am not afraid to speak frankly in my art as it is the only way I can make it.

Femininity is a crucial theme in your work. How do you use your art to explore and express this concept?

Women are significantly underestimated and constantly pushed towards the norms they should fit in. There is fashion for looks and how you should feel, act, have relationships, etc. The world is wild; there is nothing new in it. But I investigate the most intimate, vulnerable, raw feelings of feminine truth. The truth is that every woman is different and has the right to her own truth. And it is a beautiful and endless source of inspiration.

Your pieces often use vivid colours. Why did you choose this palette, and what do these colours represent for you?

I love it loud and outstanding; it attracts attention and causes powerful emotions. I use a lot of symbols in my works, and colours add power to my sayings. My favourite palette is red, pink, and orange. But I never stuck to my favourite as my role was to investigate, not to do what I already knew.

Ultimately, what emotions or reactions do you hope viewers experience when they engage with your art?

I never hope; I love that every person sees something new and adds meaning to my paintings. However, I pursue one goal. Everyone who watches my art comes closer to their more profound truth and present being.

Looking ahead, what new themes or ideas are you excited to explore in your upcoming projects?

That is a complicated question because I never plan my art; if you ask me at the beginning of a new painting or series of paintings, I will never be able to say how it will look. However, I am willing to deepen and enrich my surrealistic paintings with new experiences. And I have no expectations about what and how it will happen.

And lastly, where do you see yourself and your work in five years from now? 

In the museums.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.