Congratulations to Emanuela Nesko for earning her place as a Finalist in the Boynes Emerging Artist Award 7th Edition!

Who are you?

I am a self portrait fine art photographer and conceptual artist. I grew up in Romania, where from an early age I was interested in a variety of creative endeavors. Among them was photography of course, I would take pictures with a point and shoot camera that my parents owned. Besides that, I tried everything from painting and drawing to acting, anything that was visual and felt exciting. After moving from Romania to Spain with my family and enrolling at the Fine Arts University in Madrid, I realized that photography was the medium I loved the most. Something clicked when I realized that I could tell an entire story in one single frame, while also making surreal worlds seem like alternate realities.  Since then, this form of art is the main vehicle that I use to bring my ideas to life. 

What inspired you to utilize photography as a medium?

It took me a while to settle on photography as a primary medium. It was during the first year of University, where my professor, Rafael Trobat, managed to capture my attention not only by presenting to us the work of inspiring photographers, but also by teaching with an incredible passion towards this beautiful medium. The entire process of analogue photography captivated me in a strange way and the time spent in the dark room was for sure the best experience I had during that time. But it wasn’t until I stumbled upon fine art photographer and artist Brooke Shaden that I really knew where I was going with photography. There were many things that I was interested in, the human form, surrealism, psychology, textures…and it was her work that inspired me and helped me realize that I can combine in my images all those elements together.

How would you describe your work?

My work is a combination of surreal, dreamlike, sometimes dark and strange visuals. The common thread running through all my work are mental health subject matters. All those elements are then placed in moody scenarios, by using mostly earthy tones, alternating with cold colors or even muddy greens. My love for old objects or places combined with my admiration for painters like Caravaggio or Rembrandt also find a place in my art through subtle details, color choice and textures.

Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind "Unfamiliarity"?

This image, like most of my work, is inspired by my internal struggles, trying to make sense out of it and learning how to navigate it. This image is about crossing the portal from the predictable world to the unknown and unfamiliar one. Some are able to embrace with joy the uncertainty and for others that causes anxiety. The color red stands for the struggle and anxiety we feel when we aren't able to cope with the uncertainty that lies ahead in the unknown future, the anxiety of having expectations about things we can't control. And the question that arises is: “how can we change the way we react in certain situations?”

Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating "Unfamiliarity"?

In my work I try to utilize what I have in my environment to create magic out of that and do my best to avoid buying new and unnecessary props. For this particular piece I used some red yarn that I had bought years ago. I then tied the yarn to two tripods creating the effect that I wanted for “the portal” through which the character would try to pass. As I didn’t have enough rope, I photographed separately my head, one hand and then the other one, and then composited everything together in Photoshop. I also did adjustments to the color, light, contrast… until I finally arrived at the final result.

What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?

I want my audience to feel inspired to take a deep look into their own internal worlds, be aware about how their actions make them feel, be more mindful and consciously take action towards becoming the person they dream of being. I want them to reflect upon the idea that we are not only the result of what happens to us, but also the result of how we react to that.  

Have you experimented with other mediums?

During my Bachelors degree I had classes ranging from painting and drawing, to sculpture and modelling in clay and so on. During that time I loved creating textures on canvas by mixing materials like sand or coffee with acrylic or resin. I attempted to combine watercolor with photography, but wasn’t happy with what I could come up with at that moment. I am planning to try again combining photography with different mediums to create a more 3D effect to my prints, inciting in the viewer the desire to want to touch the image. 

Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?

There were many lessons that I’ve learned during my journey, though I think the one that I find to be very striking is to follow my intuition. Our subconscious is a wonderful thing, that senses things that we are not able to perceive with our conscious mind. Finding the balance between reason and intuition is key.

Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?

I try to celebrate all my successes, big or small, I think that is important in order to not lose motivation and keep going. Nevertheless one turning point was when I realized that working as a photographer for an employer was an impediment for me to create the work I knew deep down I wanted to do. After I gathered the courage to follow my intuition, I knew I was on the right path no matter how hard to navigate it is. 

What projects are you working on currently?

At the moment I am planning an exhibit together with a fellow artist in my hometown. It should take place late spring 2023, but that’s all I can share for now about that. When the time comes I will announce and share everything on my socials.

Besides that, I will be working in the following year to further develop my series “Fears”, which is a very personal look into my internal world and hopefully a source of inspiration for others to explore their own fears and limitations.

What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?

My biggest dream is for my art to be a great inspiration for others in their journey of healing their unresolved emotional and behavioral traumas. 

As a finalist, do you have any advice for artists who want to submit to awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?

Honestly I am still trying to figure that out for myself. What I do is research what type of art received awards in the past for that particular competition/award etc, to see if the type of work that I do fits well with that particular competition. Another very important aspect is to learn and practice writing about your art in a clear way, because our work is important, but so is the way we express ourselves about what we do and why we do it.

Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists/photographers, what is your advice?

My advice is to not try to fit a mold, but rather remain true to who you are and what you want to create. Keep working and perfecting the kind of art that you want to create, because people connect best to something created from the heart.

To view more of Emanuela Nesko’s work

Website

Instagram