Interview with Edvarda Braanaas

q)What is your name?

a)My name is Edvarda Braanaas

q) Where do you live and work?

a)I live and work in Oslo, Norway

q)What is your creative process like?

a)I work like a director before creating the painting. I collect already existing pics from art-history, fashion, design, architecture, etc. and combine them with stories from my own life…or others. The images I collect must be of importance to me, especially when it comes to beauty. Then I arrange them in composition and color.

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)Oil on canvas, Ink on paper, but I would love to make film in the future. I recently produced a dance-performance. It was great work!

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)Airports

q)How long does it take for you to finish a piece?

a)From two weeks to several years. It depends. I always work on several paintings at the time. Some of them naturally finishes early. Each painting has its own time…Im not the one to decide.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)I have developed my own artistic way to express my stories, and I have felt the joy of being an inspiration for others. That’s a great feeling.

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a) Oh yes, Her they come: Matthew Barney, Jeff Koons, Richard Prins (his photos), Sam Taylor Wood, Tracy Emin, Janet Cardiff & Georges Bures Miller, Gilbert & George to mention a few. When it comes to painting I would like to mention Paul Delvaux and Balthus even if they are not contemporary they have meant a great deal to me.

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)Through my website www.edvarda.com, and some of them through Maddox Arts Gallery, London

q)Anything that people should know about that we don’t??

a)… That my art attempts to embrace the world through acceptance and understanding and the beauty inherent in contemporary time.

q)What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?

a)To be free in inspiration, to be honest about what is important to you no matter trends and tendecies. Do not be afraid of using other artists skills to develop yours.

q)What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?

a)Love that surrounds me, through everything from family, friends or to shopping a beautiful piece of clothing. And meaningful feedback that I can use to develop instead of just receiving.

q)How do you describe your work to those who are unfamiliar with it?

a)It is figurative and surrealisitic and the paintings are often sexually loaded. The paintings are beautiful storytellers trying to catch time. The idea for a painting might come spontaneously, but it is delicately transferred to the canvas.

q)What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?

a)My current level of artistry is a result of a long journey through life and experiences . I had my amount of Fine arts education both in Norway and Italy. But the most important thing for me has to be able to study concepts of contemporary artist that are really talented. Concepts. I learned that there are not only one way to go, but several. This enlightened my creative fundementals. I believe that you can only be original through learning from others and working on what you already have. I do not believe you are born original, but that you can develop orginality.

q)Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?

a)I cant live without experiencing love and beauty. Its so much beauty in the world that we do not notice. I think beauty can save the world!!!....otherwise, I cant live without my writings, pens, paper and colorsJ

q)Who are your influences?

a)Modern man and woman

q)What inspires you to create?

a)Film, photography and life itself.

q)…your contacts…

a)Galleries I am connected to?
www.tonne.com
www.holeartcenter.com
www.maddoxarts.com
www.fineart.no
www.kunstverket.no