28 Never-Before-Seen Artworks

Anna Berezovskaya's current exhibition at REDSEA Gallery features an awe-inspiring collection of 28 never-before-seen artworks that have been four years in the making.

- Anna Berezovskaya

The collection is called “White Night”; it’s named for the curious phenomenon that occurs during the summer months in her home country of Russia, when the midnight sun remains visible throughout the night. Anna says, “During the White Nights, there are islands where the scent of winter apples is intoxicating, and the brightness of the nights is so inviting.”

We asked her more about her work and life.

“White Night” is your fifth solo exhibition at REDSEA Gallery; tell us a bit about your approach to it.

I divide art into two components: the idea and its technical execution. I must admit, I’m still learning about oil painting. For me, working with oil paint is like learning a language – learning to formulate a thought, or build a phrase in a new way. I look at contemporary art, design techniques, the work of classic painters, and immediately imagine how it can be displayed in oil.

Oil technique is like a good book: when you look at it only from one angle, it can seem that its meaning is limited. But, with experience, other sides of it open up to you. I’ve also started working more with graphics; I like to switch from canvas and colour to monochrome materials (charcoal, sepia and so on) and paper. It’s kind of like a break for myself too.

Over the years, as I’ve travelled, the traditions and culture of other countries have greatly influenced my ideas. I’m very interested in Chinese culture and philosophy, and in this series of paintings and my latest exhibition, I have works dedicated to this theme; “The river where the stars fall”, for example, is about fishing with cormorants in the provinces of China, and “Moon cake” is about Chinese traditions and holidays.