Addicted to fantasy

The BONJURIST is delighted to present this in-depth interview with Ukrainian photographer and artist Julia Beliaeva. I’ve always been attracted to her works as each piece has an organic feel, beautiful light and poetic composition. It’s always interesting to focus on the individual behind the camera. I wanted to get the best answers possible out of the personality, which in turn fights with her unprecedented inspiration power. I feel like I had natural responses from Julia for some important questions, especially those relating to the different formats in photography and future of her profession.

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Yana B.: For those that aren’t familiar with Julia Beliaeva, could you explain a little bit about yourself and what you do?

Julia B.: I live and work in Kiev. My creative areas are photography, painting and digital art. I have diploma of graphic design and currently I am holding a position of Creative Director in “Graphinya” Creative Studio.

Yana B.: Have you always been interested in photography? Or is it something that came later in life?

Julia B.: I think I was interested in photography since my childhood. I could spend hours looking at the photos in our family albums. Since film has a limited number of shots in the camera, you start to value each shot. This trains you to spend more time thinking about composition. Finally, you press the button and breathe out with a feel of freedom. Taking images with film cameras disciplines skills and teaches to value each moment. Of course, I am not focused on film cameras only. Phone’s cameras, web cameras and so on may well do even greater job, sometimes devices themselves are not of the first importance at all.

Yana B.: One thing I really appreciate about your works is that you’re not restricted to one format exclusively. Are you just trying to express yourself in any way possible?

Julia B.: I would compare this with the different rivers running their waters to the ocean. Same with my art, all creative “rivers” are parts of my self-expression - “ocean”. I just stopped thinking about what is my style I have to adhere to. I consider art as a natural part of our life. Life is diverse and dynamic as well as my art. I cannot hold myself in frame of the one medium. In fact, photography, digital art and painting have a common ambition - to interpret world visually. It is kind of my ‘tactile’ objectified perception of the reality.

Yana B.: Talking about inspiration, are there any artists that you really admire or look up to?

Julia B.: I find many things quite inspiring. In case of contemporary art, I would pick such artists as Jeff Wall, Wim Delvoye, Katharina Fritsch, TTY (French artist), Arsen Savadov. Among classics, Man Ray, Gilbert&Georg. Movie directors: Lars Von Trier.

Yana B.: What do you think the future of photography in Ukraine will be?

Julia B.: It is difficult to answer this question. Ukranian higher education doesn't offer photography graduation, even departments. Of course, there are many professional schools of different levels. Even though I am aware of some talented photographers in Ukraine, this makes myself confident that art photography will not fade away in Ukraine.

Yana B.: How would you describe your style?

Julia B.: Colorful, vibrant, fun, dynamic, and just a little humorous.

Yana B.: What would you say are your long-term goals and how ambitious are you with your craft?

Julia B.: My long term goal is to bring my art to the international level. I feel I don’t have enough space for myself just staying locked in Ukraine. I realize how much effort I have to invest in my development, however I am confident I will achieve great results.

Yana B.: I’m sure many of our readers will be intrigued to hear what camera lens you actually use. Do you have a favorite that you always turn to?

Julia B.: I have been with a “Kiev 6C” film camera and with “Volna 3” lenses by now. This camera was on the conveyer between 1971-1986. I plan to switch to a professional digital camera in the near future. I have plans to produce large format prints.

Yana B.: How do you combine work in different mediums, photos paintings, and ceramic?

Julia B.: I always try to give it a structure. I realised that chaos is leading to the unwanted results. I always keep record of my ideas for my future projects as they might come suddenly anytime and it is not too easy to recall the exact point later. My self-observation has led to a conclusion that my activity depends on a season. Digital art would be more likely for winter and spring times. Photography and painting would be typical for summer. When I work with digital art, I always think about future projects. I am full of ideas during any time of the year.

Yana B.: One of the your last work in Dan Flavin’s and Joseph Kosuth's style - ”Cynicism is in price”, do you feel like your ideas ever come from a political place in addition to a personal place?

Julia B.: This art is influenced by the society first, rather than my own viewpoint. One can interpret this piece in many different ways. Cynicism can be a style of behaviour; also, this can be understood as something often happening right now. Some accept as a value. From my point of view, I see cynicism in measuring the things in terms of monetary prices, including creative art.

Yana B.: What's the role of self-portrait in your work?

Julia B.: These paintings are an artistic diary of my different moods over the time... 10. But it seems to me your personality is stronger than your subjects. So you let it to hide… Why? My personality ,as well as my creativity, is in the state of constant transformation.I am at the start of my creative journey. Sometimes it is difficult to discuss the subjects where you have no personal experience. I think that any artist becomes mature with the progress of the time. There is always place for improvement.

Yana B.: Do you like works of Diane Arbus?

Julia B.: I am impressed with her documentary and same time surrealistic style. Arbus looked straight into the eyes of the world, buying one-way ticket without any reservation. This is a journey worth of travelling. I think she is one of the greatest female photographers.

Yana B.: How do you feel in the present times, times of computer picture making, of virtual reality. Photography is somehow loosing its credibility...

Julia B.: “Humans had formed technology at the beginning; technology will form humans at the end”. I feel comfortable right now and right here. I would like to mention recent revolution in Kiev. People used social networks as a communication tool in making of the revolution. We have witnessed that revolutions are not possible in the modern world without such technologies as Twitter, Facebook and so on. All of these have inspired my interest in making digital artworks about recent events in Kiev.

Yana B.: Finally, what projects are you currently working on? What would you like to experiment with in the future?

Julia B.: I have been working on digital artworks for the last 4 months. This takes most of the time and effort now. I also would like to try myself in fluo/neon light style graphics. This has a huge potential for an artist, this helps to get straight to the bullseye, especially when shape, colour and content successfully work together.

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