The porcelain art of Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontiev
‘Green Frog With Bridge’
Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontiev – were born respectivley in 1965 and 1967 and live in Krakov in Ukraine. They specialize in hand painted porcelain sculptures.
Education: Kharkov Art School (painting department, specialty – teaching painting and drawing at school), Kharkov Artistic-Industrial Institute (department of graphics, specialty – easel graphics, book design, poster), Graduate Department of History and theory of art Kharkov Art and Industrial Institute (specialization – history and theory of art, a specialty – art critic and researcher).
–The following interview is translated from their Facebook page ( http://www.facebook.com/AnyaSlava ) :
Porcelain – main profession? – definitely, yes. For many years, ceramics for us has been the main source of income. Well, as regards the approach to work … As follows from the above, we are on Arts Education – schedules. No special training as a sculptor and ceramist, we do not have, and, as such, it is naive.
What (or who) inspires, and where are the stories?
Slava: The source of subjects – everything that we have seen, heard and read in life. We like frogs and leaves, flowers and birds. We study very well what they look like and what they do.
Anya: We looked at a lot of beautiful pictures. From the beautiful is not enough, we turned away.We read many wonderful books. From childhood we are taught, above all, to distinguish beautiful from the ugly, interesting from the uninteresting, and the second is – something to think and do. And now in our picture gallery, library, and generators of images, it is enough to decide what is appropriate for this thing – and the subject will come up with, and descriptive language will follow.
[ Ed. Note: Some of the Russian translation goes astray but the drift is discernible ]
‘Coelacanth’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
Soft porcelain, colored fire clay, potter’s clay. Slip casting, molding, painting glazes and overglaze colors, gold chandeliers and biscuits.
Anna paints on ceramics rather than on paper?
Anya: It is interesting to place the subject on a three-dimensional surface. On either side it is visible only to a certain part, it enriches the composition and makes it possible to show the plot development, and offer the viewer different perspectives, turning the thing to go from episode to episode.
Slava : The same technique with tradition, the Romans had the memorial pillars depicted flowing into each other depicting episodes of the history of long-term military campaigns.
Anya: Even if the little creatures are just two of the medallion scene – this is more than one graphic sheet. And I like it when the story grows out of my ear or tail.
“The Golden Snail “ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
How do you work together?
Slava : I’ve always wanted to work in collaboration. Firstly because of perfectionism: that I get are almost always unpleasant for me, is too clearly visible imperfections. Well, the imperfections of others (and, hence joint) of the once tolerant and removable. Second, do not always have the very mood to set goals, I want to relax on the unthinking performing the work. And when “bear” arms did not have time for head and reluctance to “give himself the bricks.” Well, in the third, the possibilities are expanding. The two are able to more than one, if everyone is worth something. Anja has focused mainly on painting. I – on ceramics, and the concept in general. That, however, does not mean that everyone does not interfere at all. Each of our stuff was created by two authors.
Anya: It’s very interesting to get into the hands of an unexpected form, which must somehow dooformit, the image that you want to develop the plot, which should continue. Like Schwartz, ” to make a living from the dead every fool can, and you try to make a living even more alive.”
Why are you doing this ceramic plastic?
Slava : Very difficult to become a prominent painter. Especially in historical perspective. In ceramics, such as softer competition, especially in today. We still do not live in ancient Greece, China or Minsk. You can search for a place, especially “at the intersection of disciplines,” and as an alien from another art form, with their luggage. Anina “chart on ceramics” was already a virtuoso, to put it on a neprikladnoy and self-support.
Anya: Every artist is looking for new, having been something. While working on the decorations we have been able to instill a graphical approach to the ceramic material. There has been a view of the plastic, its aesthetics.
‘Blue Frog with a gold dragonfly’
All figurines are strictly frontal and symmetrical. Forms laconic, almost geometric. This is a technical limitation, or such aesthetics?
Slava : A plastic (clay) idea with which I begin, as a rule, is extremely simple. The ball on legs. Unwound helix.The plane, low-hanging above the plane of the support. Concise volume contrasts with detailed painting. And it provides more freedom
Anya: It is pleasant to develop a moderate curvature of the surface of a spacious and refined character is not too “Distinguishing” character.
‘Red butterfly with white polka dots’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
website – Farfora.com
‘Turtle Heaven’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
Four Owls – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘White Kitten’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Mumps with Moon and Sun’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
Finely detailed porcelain owl – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Porcelain Owl’ from above- Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Most Saltwater Fish’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
A large porcelain fish figurine with marine animals on the fins, seascapes on the scales.
Technique: slip casting, molding, painting glaze, overglaze colors, gold and platinum luster on the glaze and biscuits.Length: about 31 cm.
2011.
‘Cosmic Turtle belly’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Orange Turtle’ Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Young girl playing mandolin’ – ceramic bell sculpture – Yalonetski ( Anya Stasenko)
‘Fireclay Frog in leaves of paper’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Marine fish’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Most Rat-Comet’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Forty Crow’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Striped Pig’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
Snow Insects – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Zodiac Turtle’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Cute Kitten’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Snail with a maze’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Barbed Lizard’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Chameleon’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘White Bull Terrier’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
‘Young girl in purple dress playing mandolin’. Ceramic bell, sculpture.
‘Magic Bee’ – Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontyev
