Contemporary talks and musings
Hi, I’m Yana Barinova! I was born and grew up in Odessa on the coast of Black Sea 27 years ago. Having graduated with 2 master degrees in both Philosophy and Economics, right after my studies I got involved with the cultural and creative sector. I gained significant experience in various professions and institutions: conducting research studies on many aspects of the culture in Brussels based consulting company, managing an internationally contemporary art gallery (Kiev), acting as marketing and communications manager of a cultural foundation (Moscow), working as an art editor of a publishing house (Kiev) and strategic brand planner in multimedia company (Moscow).
When I think of the geography and history I come from I remember a world too innocent for rapid changes, and game changers too often with agendas based simply on their need for luck. What I could not make out in these years, in spite of my personal successes and individual experiences, was some clear criteria both for the structures of the art market and the related art discourse. So one day it came to my mind that all of this – the uncertainty, disorientation and growing disquiet within these structures – began to seem remote and I decided I had to take care of things myself by gaining additional competencies. Currently I am a MBA candidate at the Business School (Paris), in Arts program, as well I was admitted as a new PhD student in the Sorbonne. My specific project will likely focus on «The Role of New Media Art in Urban Planning».
What remains is my great interest in culture ans contemporary art and at present I cooperate with some select artists from Eastern Europe, helping them to build strong positions with their artistic intentions in the international scene. Having always worked besides my professional engagements as the art editor for several international magazines and publications, for the last 5 years I have expanded my writing into my own Blog. I simply wanted to experience another way of sharing my thoughts and paths through a new and more distinctive medium. I opened this art and lifestyle blog deeply confident that art is a state of mind, a mirror of self-involvement in, well, life itself.
"Bonjourist" explains how I came to find my calling, and how I left everything to pursue an art career and moved to Paris and then finally, started the blog that you’re reading right now.
Welcome!!!
Sincerly, Yana B.
What is Bonjourist?
Bon-jour-ist
noun
-- a number of young boyars from Eastern Europe (mostly Bessarabia area and Black sea colonies), who had been sent to the Paris for their education in the begining of 19th Century. They were intellectual youth involved in the revolutionary movement of that period. Returning from their frequent trips abroad, they were nicknamed the 'bonjourists" because they used the French greeting: “Bonjour!”. Well-educated and open-minded "young ones" they didn't hesitate to adopt a new lifestyle, they ascribed to innovative ideas and the desire to modernize society. One of the most famous "bonjourists" is the best-known and most influential Romanian poet Mihail Eminescu. His bronze statue is located in Paris on the right side of the Rue Ecoles at the intersection with the St. Jean de Beauvais (Latin Quater). References to the "bonjourists" may be found in some novels of Leo Tolstoy (The invaders; The wood-cutting expedition ; An old acquaintance ; Lost on the Steppe, or, The Snowstorm ; Polikushka ; Kholstomer etc.)