Elena Romenkova
Elena Romenkova
Who are you?
My name is Elena Romenkova (1986). I was born in Russia, St. Petersburg. Graduated University of A. Herzen, fine art faculty Master degree. Since 2017 I live and work in Austria in the field of 3D art and glitch art.
What are you most convinced of?
Bodies are combinations of atoms.
What gives you the most joy?
Actually, many things give me joy :) I would say in the first place is my family, then for sure are my artistic achievements. And a lot of simple, quiet things could make my day full of joy, like a cup of good coffee or a good movie, or just a walk.
How did you find yourself?
Well, I think when I was 14 I realized that art stuff is cool and fascinating. Art became for me also a way to escape from reality, because there were not so easy times in Russia in the 90th. I can remember that first what I saw was a Paul Cezanne painting. I had no drawing skills yet, but I started to make a copy of his portrait and it made me so hooked and engaged, so I couldn't stop. That's how I decided to go to art University and study classical painting and drawing. Some years after graduation, I started experimenting with collage and abstract painting. I was searching for myself. Then I saw 2d glitch art, it was such a cool combination of colors, textures, spots, lines, and I liked which mood it contained, kind of a destruction mood. So about 5 ago, I turned to digital art and 3d art.
Do you have a real-life situation that inspired your work?
It's often happened that I am inspired by real-life situations, and I try to bring my feelings and emotions about this in the artwork. Actually, the reality is the main source of inspiration.
What do you think about the interpretation of art? Do you want your art to be interpreted?
I think any piece of art is going to be interpreted by the viewer somehow. First maybe on the emotional level, like what I feel about this, and then on the informational plane, that is, the interpretation of the composition, shape, color, and a story of what is happening. The Interpretation helps people to understand artworks and cultural codes. I do not like to describe my works, because they are mainly images from the subconscious, but I like to read in feedbacks the interpretations from the audience, how they see it, what they found in my art.
What do you think of the Susan Sontag’s phrase: ”In place of a hermeneutics we need an erotics of art”?
I think that erotic always attracts attention and interest, it's human nature. Well, in general, it seems to me that in this quote one does not exclude the other
What would be your perfect environment for making art?
Actually I am now in a perfect environment, a lot of nature, beautiful landscapes around, that’s inspiring.
If you could choose a historical period and be there with the help of a time machine - what kind of time and place would it be?
I would like to see the future, maybe in 500 years, maybe it will be already not on Earth.
What is your dream project?
It would be ultra-cool if my sculptures will be built in real life in big size and installed in city space.
What is your favorite place that inspires you the most?
Internet, nature and my night dreams :)
What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
I was working as a teacher in a school for 5 years, then in a souvenir and book store…. small jobs to survive as an artist.
What are your favorite books/movies/persons?
I like to read psychology, science fiction, utopias, for example, “1984” or “brave new world”, “Solaris”. Art-house and sci-fi movies. Lars von Trier, D.Kronenberg, R. Scott, A.Tarkovski, and many many others.