10 Questions with Radna Segal

Radna Segal was born in 1991 in an ethnically diverse area of Southern Russia called Kalmykia, where she was influenced by both Asian and European cultures. She currently lives and works in Boulder, Colorado, in the United States.
Her textural, three-dimensional paintings feature dynamic composition and various experimental materials like plaster, foil, paint, glitter, and beads which create organic movement inspired by nature. Within her pieces, she uses an ancient, rare, and ornate Mongolian writing called “clear script,” that very few in the world know how to create.

www.radnasegal.com | @radna.segal

ARTIST STATEMENT

Her artwork is an abstract representation of many things from the past and present: the beauty of the Kalmyk steppes of her childhood and her current home in the Rockies, the dark history of the Kalmyk people exiled for 13 years during the Stalin Regime, and her experience of being an immigrant. Radna believes in the resilience of humanity. She hopes her work opens your heart and inspires you to keep moving forward.

INTERVIEW

First of all, tell our readers a little bit about you. Who are you and how did you start experimenting with images?

I was born in 1991 in an ethnically diverse area of Southern Russia called Kalmykia. There, I was influenced by both Asian and European cultures. I currently live and work in Boulder, Colorado, in the United States.
Ever since I was a child, I have loved artistic creation. I found drawing, painting, and sculpting as my main creative outlets. When I was young, I attended art school, and there I learned different subjects ranging from art history to technique. This led me to experiment with different approaches and materials early on. 

What is your personal aim as an artist?

I want people who view my art to experience a range of emotions. I want them to feel moved by history and inspired to take action in the future. I want them to feel that we are bold, resilient, and undaunted. And that we can make it through tough times because we've been here before. I hope my work leaves people inspired and open-hearted.  

In your work, you reference different personal experiences, from your Kalmyk roots to the condition of being an immigrant. How did you come up with this concept? And how did it evolve? 

I was born in Elista, Kalmykia, Russia; the only Buddhist region in Europe. It's nestled between the Caucus Mountains and the Caspian Sea. At the height of WWII, the Stalin regime declared the Kalmyks and eight other ethnic groups as "anti-communist traitors" and "cannibals". As a result of the political divide between the Soviets and the Nazis, 93,000 Kalmyks were forced to leave their native land near the Caucasus Mountains and were banished to the darkest, coldest part of Russia: Siberia. Kalmykia's history and religious roots inspire much of my work. I use materials, sentiments, and memories from Kalmykia in many of my pieces. 

You are currently based in Colorado, USA. How has the shift from Kalmykia to the USA influenced your work? 

In my pieces, I use an ancient and rare Mongolian writing called "clear script" which very few people in the world know how to make. I learned to write clear script in elementary school. It was a part of Kalmyk education to learn our native writing style before our assimilation into Russian society. I started off by writing my signature with just one word: Radna. But people were drawn to this script and became curious about it. Many people had never seen it before. So, I decided to write more in clear script. Now, I'm brave enough to write a whole poem. It's another example of retraining the eye and disrupting our obsession with the mundane action of using screens. You read the script by scanning your eyes up and down, not left to right like most people in the west are used to. It's a flowy and interesting style of writing that I inherited from Kalmykia and enjoy incorporating into my work.

Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?

I always start with a thought or idea. Then, I start thinking about what materials I could use to make my vision come to life. I like to play with different materials and see what happens. 
My paintings feature textural, three-dimensional elements, dynamic composition, and various experimental materials like plaster, foil, paint, glitter, and beads. These materials create organic movement in my work.
Some pieces can be produced quickly and easily (2 hours or less), while other pieces take longer (days or weeks). The most successful pieces are the ones that take a lot of time and energy. Sometimes, it can feel like I'm fighting with the piece. But in the end, it's always worth the fight. The pieces that make me work a lot are the ones that I love and others love the most. 

Where do you draw inspiration from for your work? Do you have any specific references?

Recently, I went to Uruguay and spent time near the ocean. I was inspired by the pillow-soft, white sand. When I returned to the US, I wanted to replicate that soft white sand texture in my pieces. Traveling inspires my art. I can fall in love with Buenos Aires and feel instantly inspired to create a piece.

What do you think about the art community and market? And how do you cultivate a collector base?

I love being a part of the art community! I think it's wide-ranging and goes beyond art collectors and professionals in the industry. There are always special connections within this community, whether it's an elderly person looking at a new mural in the neighborhood or a wealthy person choosing between Chagall or Kusama at an art auction. 
I think the art market is becoming more and more prominent in our society. It has proven to be a good investment. We're seeing good signs from art Biennales this year. Exhibitions like these are bold, strong, and wide-ranging. 

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Anything exciting you can tell us about?

I am currently working on a new triptych project, a piece of work featuring three separate panels. 

The subject is about the current time that we are living in, where people are going back to the office but with a new consciousness and attitude. The lines of the background will be clear-colored, and the ancient Mongolian script will be glowing. You'll be able to read it from top to bottom and from left to right. It'll look something like reading a matrix code on a paper canvas.

Finally, share something you would like the world to know about you?

I'm not just an artist. I'm also a mother. I'm inspired by my daughter and love watching her develop her own artistic style.