How are you doing in the quarantine? How do you spend your day?
I don’t feel a crucial difference. Before quarantine I was painting, reading, bringing my ideas to life while sitting at home as same as I do now. I don’t know how it works, but now it is even better. Seems like time has stopped and we should try to make the best out of this situation and keep doing our favorite things.
How did art enter your life?
The situation is pretty standard, I’m interested in art since childhood. My parents let me choose my future profession by myself and I enrolled in the university to the Faculty of Fine Arts. While studying I didn’t dare to make abstraction art seriously, because my teachers and other students considered making abstract art to be a bad way to show your professional skills in painting/drawing. I wasn’t bad at the academic art, but I have always been drawn to stylization or something non-standard. On my senior year we studied modern art of XIX – XX cent. more deeply. Hans Arp’s art became very special to me. The way he interpreted colors and shapes in his works is very appealing to me. I think, in some way, he is my mentor.
Hans Arp’s art became very special to me. The way he interpreted colors and shapes in his works is very appealing to me. I think, in some way, he is my mentor.
Yelyzaveta Vlasenko interview 
Yelyzaveta Vlasenko interview
How would you describe your art?
The object means nothing to me. The main things that inspire me are: colors, shapes and their union. Figurative art implies portraying something alive. Something, that will eventually die, because that’s in its nature. So, my conception is about eternity of color shapes. I’m changing а figure or аn object to shapes and color them closely to original. The shapes have an absolutely abstract meaning and I usually find them in the photographic works of other artists. This is my way to support authors and show their ability to inspire someone. My works are created through the prism of minimalism and I’m trying to hold on to that philosophy in real life. Another way to describe my work is probably that I’m simplifying all the visual things because of bad eyesight since my childhood.
My works are created through the prism of minimalism and I’m trying to hold on to that philosophy in real life.
What are some of the issues you came across while doing your art?
I feel fascination and excitement when I’m making a digital version. If I’m deciding to paint something, it usually gives me less pleasure. It takes a lot of time to mix paint and to get the right shades. Often I tend to repaint paintings when something goes wrong. Therefore a canvas can be finished even after a few months.
How long does it usually take between the original idea and its realization on a canvas?
Not every digital version is meant to be “moved” on a canvas. I choose some references for the realization from my portfolio filled with pictures that have the closest aesthetics to the one I like. It’s important to have an opportunity to make a choice. With my thoroughness I’m painting slowly.
What are your hobbies and interests?
I love running and nature. So running outdoors, in the woods, surrounded by trees would be the best match. That’s what I really miss.
What do you know about Vienna?
I know that Austria has a rich cultural heritage and the government cares about it as much as about the contemporary art scene. Countless galleries, projects and artists of Vienna can prove it. And I respect it. Also Vienna is located not so far from Kyiv as it may have seemed and I studied German at school, so I’d love eagerly to visit you.