Thursday, April 23, 2015

artist's interview: ARHIA KOHLMOOS, #2

this is my second artist's interview with Arhia Kohlmoos. in an effort to keep creative dialogue going within my group of darling sisters, i am doing some "round 2" interviews. for Arhia's bio, click HERE. for my first interview with her, click HERE

thank you to Arhia for over ten years of creative encouragement, sisterhood, and best friendship. you know how very deeply i love you, boo-fawn.

may you enjoy this exchange as much as i do. 

xoxoxoxoooo, 

k

Arhia Kohlmoos, painter

1. kelly:: Arhia, your recent painting, "Lady with a Langur," is your most magnificent work to date. anyway, your audience noticed this too, expressing thru Facebook comments that you indeed had delivered your most polished painting (skills.) how did it feel to complete this work? Arhia:: Thank you for your compliments, dear friend. Indeed, it felt wonderful to complete this piece, although I have to say... there's always a bit of sadness involved in "finishing," too. It was highly gratifying to see the painting come into being in our physical world as it had already existed in my mind. I do believe my skills as a painter (both technically and conceptually) grew throughout the creation of this work, which is doubtless a goal of many artists. So, I was elated to complete the piece, but also rather depressed afterward because I'd lived in that world every day for some months... 


Lady with a Langur

2. kelly:: will you speak with us more about this painting? i am most curious about the zinnias in your hair and your red skin. eeeee, the red skin! anything else you wish to share with us about deeper meaning and symbolisms is also welcomed. i know some artists (myself often) prefer not to be blatant about these sorts of things, so go with this where you will, no expectations. Arhia:: There are many things I could say about the imagery of this work. I could write a whole paper on it, for sure! As you mentioned in your question, speaking about art is not an easy feat. However, I do believe the ability to articulate one's ideas is important. In many ways, this painting speaks to the concept of "beauty." I feel that many of us (myself included) often submit to the general societal definition of beauty and are, in a way, trapped by that definition. We forget what we originally perceived as beautiful before we took in our society's opinions. This is inevitable to some extent, but I think it is vital that we also strive to remember our personal definitions. When I was a small child, I was obsessed with the color MAGENTA. I used to color all the most beautiful ladies in my drawings and coloring books with skin of this hue. My sister said, "Arhia, that's not realistic," but I didn't care. Realism was irrelevant to me when pitted against my perception of beauty. So here she is--- this princess I would have painted as a child... if I had possessed the skills. I was also fascinated by beets as a kid; I used to smear them on my hands just to walk around with magenta palms. Beets are very symbolic in nature, being the color they are, and often the size and general shape of a human heart. I like the way my "beautiful lady" seems to grow out of the earth in a root-ed manner, perhaps with a beet for a heart and beet-juice for blood. I like the way her coloring makes her appear almost "skinned," and thus very vulnerable... yet she faces us in a defiant way, sure and calm and still wild. She has risen like that from the beet-forest. The coloring of her skin alludes to the theme of "otherness," while not necessarily commenting on "black vs. white" in a literal way... what race is she? Is she human at all? The zinnias are another nod to one of my particular childhood preferences, as I used to adore this type of flower. Additionally, in the "language of flowers," zinnias symbolize thoughtfulness and friendship; possibly thoughts of a friend in that person's absence. In this case, it is remembering/befriending one's sincere childhood perceptions of beauty. Then there is the structure of the painting, which obviously recalls several pieces by Frida Kahlo. This is intentional, as I want to reference her as a woman of extreme originality and power in her vision of "beauty." There is definitely a current of feminism in "Beautiful Lady," though I think that is a result of other themes rather than an overt theme in itself. Lastly, the beetles... in part they are a bit of humor: beets and beetles, don't you know! But this gorgeous insect comes in many wildly varying shapes and colors, which strengthens the theme of "beauty in originality"... "beauty because I say so." Of course, beetles also carry symbolic significance in many cultures: the Scarab beetle, for instance, meant dawn, rebirth and regeneration to the ancient Egyptians... a powerful fertility symbol. SO, if you've read this far, your attention span is impressive and I won't test it any further!

Fashion Animals, Spring 2014 Collection: Vert Autruche

3. k:: what are you working on now? A:: Right now I am working on several projects, two of which are "for myself." The others are commissions. I have begun the painting of "Portrait of a Woman with a Bird at a Casement," which has existed as a drawing for a year or so but was always intended to have life as a painting as well. I am very excited about this one! At the same time, I am dreaming up a new concept... for which I've been reading books about Hildegard of Bingen, books about the roles of women in the Medieval, and books about witch trials during the 16th and 17th centuries. Also looking at many paintings of the Virgin and Child. 

Self-Portrait as a Beautiful Lady

4. k:: since our last interview, you've completed your graduate coursework in painting. how has this helped you forward in your creative life? has this degree and accompanying grown/growing skill sets helped you to make money as an artist? A:: I would say that the most important aspect of graduate school, for me, was the dedicated time it gave me to spend on painting. For three years, I spent seven hours a day painting. I developed a nasty case of tendinitis, but an awesome case of improved skills! I never could have found the space in which to concentrate so fully on my craft without going to grad school. As far as input from teachers... hm. I suppose that is more difficult to define. I don't know, really, how much that helped me. I was pushed almost daily to leave painting and go into things like video and performance art, since my school was heavy in those areas. I stuck to my intentions like a mule, and thus improved my skill, but I didn't have many "gurus" if you know what I mean. As for money, I do believe the degree as well as the added skills have helped me with that. An ever-developing saga, that.

Oikos Haima

5. k:: is making money as an artist a goal of yours? how is it going and how can it be better? A:: I'm sure making money is a goal of mine, as it must be of all artists. I am fortunate in that I don't have to support myself with what I earn from my practice. I suppose it could be better if I pushed myself to learn more about marketing, rather than spending that time making work. I'm not sure whether my choices in this regard are right or wrong; but I do know I'm lucky in being able to choose the studio.  

in the "studio" ~ 11/2014.

6. k:: your Society6 page (HERE) and website (HERE) are so good. how have sales been going thru Society6? i think it's such a cool forum. will you tell the folks about it? do you have bestselling items? A:: Thank you! My wonderful husband helped me so much with those "techie" aspects of my artistic presence. Society6 is the best place I've found through which to sell my prints. It's great because the quality is outstanding, and you can set your own prices. You just have to find the "sweet spot" between ripping yourself off... and charging so much that no one can afford your stuff. Society6 is pretty hip, and many folks on there are great at creating stuff that is "in." I use it in a slightly different way, so although I do sell things, I'm definitely not making $2,000/month, as I've heard some people do. I'd say "Lady with a Langur" and "Dear Heart" are my best-selling pieces to date. 

Dear Heart
 
7. k:: what are your days like, generally speaking? you and your hubby have a cool thing worked out where you are able to be home working on art, food, life, errands, and whatever else as your full-time gig. you digging it? A:: My days are pretty awesome, I can't lie. I love the morning, so I get up at 3am each day. I cook Myer's meals for his work day, and then I wake him up and walk with him to work. Then I usually go to the gym... and when I get home, if it's not a grocery shopping day, I paint for a couple hours before noon. Then I do some email garbage, and hopefully work on commissions in the afternoon, although many days either morning or afternoon are taken up with phone dates, seeing a friend, doing errands, cleaning, accounting, etc. Then I cook dinner and spend some time with Myer when he gets home. Yes, I'm totally digging it. I'm lucky and life is sweet. 

Myer and Arhia, by: Ivette Salom

8. k:: it's been neat to witness your growth as a mindfulness practitioner. talk to me about the significance of Thay in your life. perhaps let the people briefly know who he is, and how he's contributed to your growth in grace and compassion. A:: Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Zen master who is perhaps the most well-known figure in Buddhism after the Dalai Lama. I actually first learned his name from you, Kelly! I began listening to Dharma talks given by him about four years ago, and was struck by the intense yet gentle presence in his voice and words. I would not call myself a Buddhist... I am inspired by aspects of many religions... but Thay has given me a profound "spiritual tool box" with which to understand and navigate my inner emotional life and the world around me. The way he presents things in his talks is... utterly clear, to the point where I cannot fail to understand. Knowing him through his work has changed the way I relate to other people; it has helped me be more compassionate to them and to myself.  

Thay is the cutie in the hat. #Boston #Arhiawasthere! #thisisherfoto

9. k:: are you so excited for iceland? you and hubby are going this Fall. what sorts of things will you do there in honor of your creativity? A:: Yes, I am out of my mind excited to see Iceland. Traveling in general is not easy for me, but the opportunity to see another country has always been among the most creatively stimulating of experiences in my life. Last time I went abroad was 2010, when I was in Amsterdam. I've not had the means to travel again until now, and it gives me such a feeling of freedom! It is extra special because Myer will be with me; the only other time we traveled internationally together was London in 2005. We plan to walk all over Reykjavik, visit museums and cultural sites of every sort, and hopefully take a driving trip around the island to see the natural wonders for which Iceland is famous. I love anticipation!  

Annwn
  
10. k:: what are your creative goals for the next 2-3 years? A:: That is a difficult question for me. I suppose my goals on a yearly basis are basically equivalent to my goals on a daily basis: Paint. Paint. Paint.  


11. k:: and for fun, if you and i could share 3 separate (one per year for 3 years) vacations together, where would we meet?!!! you decide!!! A:: Oh my! Let me see! Well, I would love to visit you somewhere tropical... and since you already live in such a locale, let's skip across the world to make it exotic for you too and go to BALI! I've always wanted to see that beautiful place. Next... I think Japan. And thirdly, how about Turkey. I have a strong desire to see Istanbul. I can't wait! 

Portrait of Five Sisters

Deathmask: A Fox Dreams of The Hunt
 
... with a Félix González-Torres gold-bead curtain

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