An Enthralling Conversation with Janina Myronova
Photo by Dzikie Studio
Janina Myronova is a Ukrainian sculptor and ceramic artist based in Poland whose art has been displayed internationally in museums and galleries that include Museu de Ceràmica de l’Alcora, Yingge Ceramics Museum, and the Riga Art Space. She has participated in symposiums across Europe. Janina is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics and Artaxis. I got the pleasure to ask Janina about how art has changed how she views life, what is the most challenging part in selecting material for a piece, and how she would describe her artistic style.
UZOMAH: How would you describe your artistic process?
JANINA: There are few steps in my artistic process. The first step is research. It is a time when I am thinking about ideas and collecting information. Sometimes I am sketching my ideas; other times I start to work right away in clay. The important part of my ceramic process is decoration. In this part, I show two-dimensional drawings on the three-dimensional shape. It is an interesting process for me, probably one of my favorites. When my object is ready, I start to analyze it again. I am thinking about what I can change and improve in the future to make it better. Those processes are repeating, and I like that every step has different tasks; some steps are very technical. At that moment I enjoy some repetition; for example, when I am polishing the surface of the sculpture.
U: Can you explain how art has changed how you view life?
J: Creating art became a natural part of my life. There are so many inspirations which I am seeing in the streets and in people's everyday life. I collect different ideas and it is important for me to show them in clay or any other materials. All my days are consisting of different creative processes. Sometimes it is observation, sometimes it is work in material or photographing ready pieces. You make choices every day and all your life becomes creative and of course, it is changing your view of life.
U: What are some of your favorite colors to use when making some of your art?
J: Since 2012, I have had blue hair and I feel that it became an important color in my art pieces as well; because my works are talking a lot about myself. Most of my works have very bright colors. I like combinations of red and green, or blue and orange. An Important place in my works involves the color yellow also. I like when people say that I am a colorful artist because colors are very important for my pieces and my everyday life. I choose a lot of colorful objects to have around me.
“Satisfied,” Material: chamotte clay, underglaze paint, high-firing glaz Technique: Hand forming and painting Year: 2020 photo by Rebecca Fanuele
U: How do you see art as a good way to communicate with the public?
J: For me, art was always a good way to communicate with the public. I am working on figurative sculptures and showing relationships between people. You can see parents and children, brothers, sisters, partners, and often pets in my pieces. In my case, it is like I am showing the mirror to people and they can see themselves better. I would like viewers to read stories which I would like to say.
U: How do you develop concepts or creative ideas for craft objects?
J: When I studied at the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Art and Design for the first time, I started to make craft objects. It became a very interesting task for me. There are so many things you need to think about while you are creating useful objects. I am always thinking that with my useful objects, the viewer has a more intimate relation. When I create concepts for those objects I am thinking about size, proportion, material, and of course about all elements which are making it comfortable in use.
U: What is the most challenging part of selecting materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability, and other characteristics?
J: The material that I mostly choose for my works is clay. Since 2002, it is my main material but depending on the project I am using and learning about other materials as well. I feel like you need time and a lot of knowledge and practice to work with chosen materials properly. Each one has its own boundaries, and some ideas are challenging to make in clay, others in glass or metal. At the same time, I would like to write that I like to see works of artists, designers who just start to work with clay. They have a fresh view of the material. Each material has its own characteristic, it is important to know them, but you need to leave freedom as well for the experiments and do not follow completely the knowledge you already have. You need to look for wider boundaries.
U: How do you keep from getting hand or wrist pain from repetitive motion?
J: In my artistic process there is a lot of repetitive motion. There are so many tasks during the day, so there is not a problem. I am just changing repetition. Sometimes I am doing sketches, another part of the day I am building form, polishing it, or putting decoration on it. I feel there are more problems with the spine. It is good to remember to make exercises to stretch because most of the day I am in a sitting position.
U: If you could put into words the style of art you produce what would it be?
J: Naïve Art. There are so many other influences of course and it is hard to say with only one style.
Material: chamotte clay, underglaze paint Technique: Hand forming and painting Year: 2020 photo by Rebecca Fanuele
U: What are the main materials you have worked with? Are there any materials you have not tried but want to?
J: I am mostly working on ceramic pieces. I tried to work with glass. I loved the combination between ceramic and glass. Transparency of glass gives a very light feeling, which is harder to get with ceramics. I work with wood and metal. In my future plan, I would like to combine ceramics and textiles. I like this contrast between flexible textile and stabile ceramics.
You can find out more about Janina’s art here. You can also follow Janina on Instagram.
