Artist Veronika Lavey
Congratulations to Veronika Lavey for earning her place as a finalist in the 6th Edition!
Who are you?
I am an artist specialising in conceptual imagery and self-portraiture through fine art photography. While earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2013 with a focus on creative writing and literature, I acquired a love for stories, which I later nurtured and focused into my distinctive artistic imagination. Originally from Hungary, I grew up in Los Angeles and Auckland, New Zealand before settling in Herefordshire in the United Kingdom with my husband and two children.
“Follow Your Own Light”
Photography
By Veronika Lavey
What inspired you to utilize photography as a medium?
It took me quite a while to discover photography as a medium. Ever since I was little I wanted to be an artist but I didn’t know how and I didn’t know what I would do. I just knew I admired artists whose work touched me and I wanted to be just like them! I tried my hands at everything. Drawing, painting, sewing (I still make dolls actually), writing (still do this too), sculpting. Then photographer friends of mine nudged me to try this medium. Here I dabbled in documentary photography, portraiture, and creative portraiture before I came upon a book by Miss Aniela, in which she talks about not only self-portraiture but conceptual self-portraiture! I had no idea this genre existed. I had goose-bumps!!
How would you describe your work?
I create dark, thought-provoking self-portraits with a mission to illuminate strength and resilience in hardship through shared emotional experiences.I prefer to involve the natural elements of the woodland or often my own or friends’ gardens, and I always weave through delicate yet powerful feminine undertones. I carefully blend elements, highlight the subject, play with colours and choose appropriate clothing and an ambiguous location to give the finished work a feeling of timelessness.
“Caged”
Photography
By Veronika Lavey
Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind "Follow your own light"?
Ideas for all my images are drawn from a myriad of sources; from conversations with people experiencing hardship, through poetry (my own as well as others) and this deep desire to remind people how strong they/we actually are.
With ‘Follow your own light’ I wanted to cultivate empathy for ourselves and others because ultimately we are all navigating through the same deep-rooted stories of joy, pain, hope and sorrow. The character has a veil blinding her eyes, and the difficulties of life had begun to take their toll on her body, but she still finds her inner strength and is capable to follow her hopes for a life she desires for herself.
Can you walk us through the creation of "Follow your own light"?
I have a collection of props that I’ve gathered over the past few years and sometimes I would look at a particular thing and let it guide my intuition. This time it was the candles. I had a different idea originally but I just didn’t feel it so I let it transform instead until it made better sense. The veil and neckpiece came from charity shops.
The portrait was taken in my garage door with the natural light casting the perfect light and I had a large black piece of fabric pinned to the ceiling, which acted as the backdrop.
My usual set-up is just me, my camera, tripod and phone which acts as my remote. Once I have the right picture, I play with it for hours and hours on my Wacom Cintiq (this piece of kit was a game changer for me!) painting in colours and light, sometimes even other elements to make the story work.
What is the message you want to send your audience with your work?
Always to help people realise, remind or celebrate their inner strength and resilience.
“Lassitude”
Photography
By Veronika Lavey
What do you feel is your most successful piece to date? Why?
As long as the process of creating the image makes me happy and I’m proud of the end result I consider anything a success.
Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your photography?
Good question! I think frustration is a great teacher. I got frustrated very early on by not having the right colour palette, by not having a strong enough voice, by not seeing the results I wished to see in front of me. All these frustrations (and more) pushed me to try harder, try different things, save money for better equipment, concentrate on eliminating what I didn’t like in my work and reproduce what I did. I still get frustrated and it’s a horrid feeling, but I know it will push me towards a stronger artistic position.
Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?
I see success in many things, from getting a nice message on Instagram about one of my images from someone whose soul it touched, to being on the cover of a magazine or winning awards. Each of these steps counteracts all the times when things don’t go like I’d like them to; when everything seems doom and gloom in my practice. It’s so easy to let the negatives overshadow all the good we achieve and create. This is why it’s important to celebrate the littlest of successes as well as the big ones.
“The Other Side of Fear”
Photography
By Veronika Lavey
What projects are you working on currently? Can you discuss them?
I am getting ready for a pop-up exhibition coming up in September, which will be an immersive experience for the viewer complete with audio sounds and it will act as the debut place for my second picture & poetry book.
I continuously work on my wider body of work but have been thinking about a smaller series lately. I will be honest with you, I don’t know what it is yet, which frustrates me so much! But we know what happens out of our frustrations…
What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?
Currently probably the series I mentioned above. This is something I haven’t accomplished before and I would love to do whatever idea I’ll come up with justice. Once I manage that, I would love to exhibit where a wide audience would have access to viewing the pieces.
“Time Passed But I Don’t Know How Much”
Photography
By Veronika Lavey
Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists/photographers, what is your advice?
We all want to be successful. But our versions of success is different from person the person. Is it happiness, is it money, is it exhibiting in prestigious London galleries? Whatever your own version is: Keep going! Keep creating, keep improving, keep promoting, keep getting frustrated, and keep pushing through. One of your biggest successes will be not giving up.
To view more of Veronika Lavey’s work