South School

Alina s a professional visual artist whose medium mostly are oils and canvas. Her understanding of colour and brush technique gives her work the nuance. Alina completed her training at the 3 different universities in Odessa, learning things like architecture, drafting, graphic design and painting. But, she stresses, you have to keep learning. These skills keep her in demand. She keeps up with new developments through workshops and courses for different art centers in Ukraine. I asked Alina about the things she enjoys, about her work backstage.

Yana B.: Who is Alina Gordienko, and how does she make a living?

Alina G.: Alina Gordienko is an artist, curator of contemporary art gallery, founder of art school for adoults, social active person.

Yana B.: What do your artworks express? Could articulate your general artist's message.

I crate my artworks to translate the pure and absolute beauty using unusual methods and images. I want to show audience magic in things where they don't used to see it.

Yana B.​: Do you paint from a real model, from your imagination, or do the structures in your paintings come out of the painting process?

I usually take pictures of a real models than do some studies and after that I create an artwork.

Yana B.​: You studied math previous to studying art. In many ways the two are very related. In practice have these two aspects of your education intertwined in any way?

One of my educations is Architecture and construction. This aspect really influances on my way of thinking, gives me more discipline and structure in my ideas and artworks.

Yana B.​: Have you shied away from politics in your art?

I'm absoulutely apolitical person. In my art it's all about love. Make art not war.

Yana B.​: How do you sell your work? How do you market yourself?

I actually don't think about it. My collectors find me by themselves.

Yana B.​: How would you characterize the current state of the art sector here in Odessa?

Now it's not so good time for selling art in Ukraine. Art market is bound by political situation and fear. But people still visiting exhibitions, an interest to art is not lost completely.

Yana B.​: Can you describe the positives and negatives that come with increasing international attention to Ukraine? How do you as a gallery curator deal with that?

The situation in Ukrane is totally negative, but we belive that happy end will be coming soon. International attention to our artists is a chance for them to be seen abroad and it's positive, I hope that attention in a future will be due of a proffessionalism of our artists not about politics.

Yana B.​: You are working as a curator at the HUDPROMO gallery as well. Tell us about the Ukrainian artists you selected for your projects during International Film Festival, and why you think they’re important figures to an audience?

We organised three different art projects during the OIFF. First one called "CIMENA". Only the main figures of ukrainian art took part in this project. The second one - called "SOAP". It was my own curator project where young, but wellknown in Ukraine, artists took part. And the third one - was a project "auditions". A curator project of my colleague Max Kovalchuk. There were young ukrainian media artists, I also took part as an artist in this project.

Yana B.​: Many galleries today have become more like private offices that only receive clients by appointment, because most business is conducted at art fairs or on-line or on the phone? Have you considered that model…especially in Odessa?

In our gallery we don't considere this model, because our main purpose is education of our citizens. We are open every day for all, who want to see really good art.

Yana B.​: Being born in Odessa, Ukraine, what would you say are the main things that have influenced you growing up?

I think that the spirit of Odessa formed my personality. It's imposible to live in such a beautiful city and not to go in for arts.

Yana B.​: All artists get stuck and frustrated at certain points, and there are usually things they return to. Are there certain motifs that you return to when you feel stuck? What do you do?

I feel my high purpose to follow my way till the end. Every time I feel stuck, I remind people who inspire me and who supports me and belives in me.

Yana B.​: What artists inspire you?

My first Mentor was Oksana Mas. Because of her examle I became who I am.

Yana B.​: Lastly, what is the most surprising thing you’ve learnt during your time painting professionally?

For me, as the person who believes in education and has 3 high educations, the most surprising thing was that your professional technic is not a main thing in contemporary art. The main thing is an idea.