We recently connected with Yulia Spiridonova and have shared our conversation below.
Yulia, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My personal source of inspiration is a Russian roly-poly doll called a Nevalyashka, which my father often compared me to. Made of several round spheres, the defining characteristic of this doll is that, no matter how hard you push it, it wobbles but eventually stands upright again. Metaphorically, my father saw this as a symbol of resilience: no matter what difficulties or challenges we face in life, we have the strength to overcome them and continue to pursue happiness and success.
Two years ago, I left my homeland of Russia as a sign of protest against the war our government initiated against Ukraine. Now, as a de facto refugee living in the United States, I use my art practice to explore the intersections of political and personal storytelling of global citizens, reflecting the complexities and challenges of navigating a nomadic lifestyle.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Working in collage, I combine an extensive use of digital tools with physical craftsmanship to create multilayered, unique objects. While my primary focus is on photography, my work juxtaposes my own photographs and personal archives with found imagery from various open sources and the web.
This approach conceptually reflects the idea of multiplicity and the coexistence of different perspectives. It proposes an in-depth dialogue on modern power structures, the intersection of political forces with personal storytelling, and the bureaucratic and financial constraints faced by global citizens.
In these times of global geopolitical turmoil, many people are forced to adopt a nomadic lifestyle in search of a place where they can find emotional and ethical alignment with themselves while meeting their physical needs. My work, which primarily reflects on the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war, serves as an example of the broader global crises we see today and the challenges people from many nations currently face.
Using found imagery in my collages challenges the concept of authorship. In my work, I employ various methods to repurpose visual materials from web sources, subverting their original context. Having worked as a photo editor for nearly a decade, I have an extensive understanding of copyright clearance, which allows me to transform the original intent of these images into thought-provoking visual forms that create a sense of absurdity, encouraging viewers to question their meaning. Conceptually, my ultimate goal is to provoke a sense of uncertainty in viewers about the political statements and ownership of the views represented by these images.
For example, I cut out faces from portraits of political figures, directing the viewer’s attention to gestures that signify power. This shifts the focus from specific personalities to a more abstract notion of power as anonymous and cruel, regardless of the faces it represents. I also explore and juxtapose two types of masculinity—men in power and vulnerable male figures—categories I see as central during times of war. As a female artist, working with these categories allows me to challenge and play with the Western classical tradition of the male gaze and objectification, queering these modern ideologies.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Philosophy plays the key role in understanding this world and gives the fundamental basis for personal development and professional growth.
I truly believe that contemporary art is ultimately a play of bounced ideas that have visual forms which represents philosophical ideas and delves into the search of new formation of previously developed concepts, art history and study of how artists various approaches in this exploration is important in personal endeavor of finding your unique ways of playing the game of contemporary art.
Despite the widespread fascination with digital technology and AI, I find it captivating to explore various ancient technologies. Understanding the mechanics of different photographic mediums, optics, light, and printing methods expands the possibilities for interpreting, adapting, and reimagining these technologies in modern contexts while integrating them with contemporary opportunities.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
As a recent MFA graduate, I find it challenging to balance the time and energy needed to maintain a high pace of personal projects while also working and navigating life in a foreign country. Monthly critiques and interactions with a community of like-minded artists help sustain the momentum of creating art and continually stimulate the development of new ideas.
The life of a contemporary artist often involves a continuous cycle of applying for grants and residencies, preparing for exhibitions, and dealing with the inevitable disappointment of rejection. A supportive community of fellow artists is essential for sustaining an artistic practice, especially when working with a flexible schedule and without external deadlines.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yuliaspiridonova.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liver_lovers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yuliadspiridonova/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yulia-spiridonova-126a31264/
Image Credits
OMON I, 2023, Archival Inkjet Print, Sizes various
OMON III, 2023, Archival Inkjet Print, Sizes various
OMON II, 2023, Archival Inkjet Print, Sizes various
GWD (The Hybrid Image III), 2023, Wood Panel, Archival Inkjet Print, Resin, 11 x 14 inches
GWD (The Hybrid Image IV), 2023, Metal Plate, Archival Inkjet Print, Acrylic Coating, Plexiglas, UV Print, Engraving, 12 x 17 inches
GWD (Studio Construction I), 2022, Archival Inkjet Print, Sizes various
GWD (Chest), 2022, Archival Inkjet Print, Sizes various
Untitled (Coat of arms), 2024, Archival Inkjet Print, Sizes various
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
