Meet Marina Btesh

We recently connected with Marina Btesh and have shared our conversation below.

Marina, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

I´m not quite sure, but if it is a matter of genetic or heritage I have to think on my mothers side. What I can tell is that being optimistic it’s not only a good feeling but an attitude and I’m also confident.
I love this anonymous and it’s my “moto”

“Everything will be ok in the end. If it’s not ok, it’s not the end”

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

How do I introduce myelf ? I do not belong to any classic category, I am neither a painter nor a sculptress. Experimenting, searching, using, transforming, recycling, are actions that represent me. So, in one first definition I would say : I investigate and work in space.

What happens if….? This is a question I always ask myelf and it is the starting point to work and experience with materials.
Through time, I have discovered two powerful tools: heat and chance. Heat because its action confronts me with the irreversibility of these transformation proceses. Chance because I work without previous sketches or plans, accepting the unexpected

I look for the potential of the substance that you can’t see at first sight, forcing it to go beyond the accepted limits. I work as from the search and the meeting point of new methodologies. I experience in the frontiers of where something is and where something might be.

I am interested in what is unique; however, I manufacture or produce, repeating the process once and again and going far away from the same result. I find pleasure in experiencing, in following one and a thousand times the same method , and the difficulty of the organization of these parts. Parts, which are works themselves, turn into a work of larger scale.

Now I’m working with texts more than textile although they share the the same origin in latin and specifically with news papers

In another approach to what I am interested as an artist, I would say, that in the natural world I am attracted to : plants, and stones, and industrial processes, everything that for some reason is thrown away.

In my “atelier” everything is posible.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Curiosity, capacity for playing and pleasure are my guides. I didn´t have academic formation, more kind of self-taught.
I don’t know if it’s a good advice for all, but in case it helps someone …..stick to it.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I do love collaborative art work. I did it many times and still doing it with @proyectotrasborde. Its difficult to think qualities but if anyone has read my answers and feel connected I think it’s good enough but to say something I would say : open minded and enjoying playing . The big challenge would be work virtually because I never did it

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marinabtesh.com.ar
• Instagram: @marinabtesh @besosparaelcielo
• Facebook: Marina Btesh