Three meters of memories, Resin

Briefly describe the work you do.

I am interested in art as general. I love to work in different areas. I don’t like labels. I graduated as an Textile artist but not all of my works are typical textile works. I like presented ideas that are touchable because of its emotional characteristic. I like working on releasing my trapped emotions by my works. Furthermore, I love developing ideas that capture all of my attention.

Tell us about your background and how that has had an influence on your work and on you as an artist.

Meeting with all of the textile artists in the academy and getting to know the work of so many artists in general is great experience. I appreciate the support I receive from my textile leader Verzhiniya Markarova. She is great person and artist. I’m thankful for the freedom she gave me and my colleagues and the way she thought us as equals.

I had great opportunity to spend a semester in Italy as an Erasmus student. That was amazing time. I met really nice people, different culture, professionalism in the design area. Therefore, I was inspired to change the way I think of art and design. We were sharing  thoughts,  ideas and working together.

Three meters of memories, Resin

The concept of the artist studio has a broad range of meanings in contemporary practice. Artists may spend much of their time in the actual studio, or they may spend very little time in it. Tell us about your individual studio practice and how it differs from or is the same as traditional notions of “being in the studio.”

I believe the best studio is where you feel well. Even If this place  is outside on the grass or in the mountain on plain air. Studio could be the nature and is really great for me when I have the possibility to spend some time out of the town. I like also these studio-exchanges that brings communication and good experience. You make relations and get to know other artist’s ‘spaces’ and different way of working. For instant, I like working early in the morning and for me is important that my studio is at home. 

What roles do you find yourself playing that you may not have envisioned yourself in when you first started making art?

I didn’t know i will be so sure in what I do, so brave in my actions. It is great feeling.

When do you find is the best time to make art? Do you set aside a specific time everyday or do you have to work whenever time allows?

The idea comes always on its right moment.  I just keep it in mind till I have the possibility to make a sketch or write something about it. But there is no specific time I could mention. It depends on my mood. I love working early in the morning. This is the time I am the most energized and enthusiastic. However, in the weekends I work all day on different projects. I could just draw a little or make sketches and I really enjoy that.

Three meters of memories, Resin

How has your work changed in the past five years? How is it the same?

I think the passion and desire are still with me. However, other similarities I can’t mention. Five years ago I was a teenager. After I started my Bachelor in Textile I explore the amazing colored world of thoughts in my head. I started considering about my ideas as something possible. Every little strange idea is something thatI could rebuild or change. This appearance is what force me to think more and more and makes me do and work on it. Furthermore, I’ve been building and working on my own thoughts in direction art for long time and I still do it everyday. I open my senses for everything around me. It is important to be constant process. For example, I started making researches and read a lot about art after I started my Bachelor. Now, I am even more interested in so many different areas of art. I want to see more and more.This inspires me of course.Definitely, I’ve been changing. In addition I’ve grown as a person.It seems to me that I’ve done really important steps on my own in the last two years.

How have people such as family, friends, writers, philosophers, other artists or even pop icons had an impact on the work you do? My family and my friends are really supportive. This is important to me. My mother and my father have had always impact on me and my life. They have thought me ti be good person. I don’t have role models but people I admire and love. I always try to work on myself.

 Have you ever been pulled in the direction of a pursuit other than being an artist? What are your other interests?

I love confectionery and bakery in general. I guess I still can work on this desire. In my opinion, bakery is not good example as long as I would say bakery is art too.

About

Born in In Levski, Bulgaria. Vilyana has just finished her BA in Textile in National Academy of Art Sofia. In 2013, she spent a semester as an Erasmus student in Istituto Superiore per le industrie artistiche (ISIA) in Faenza, Italy. She had chance to be part of a nice exhibition in Forli in May 2013. In the summer of 2013 she started working in a factory for beachwear and custom designed swimwear. Currently she lives and works in Sofia.

works.io/vilyana-milanova-milanova

All images copyright of the artist and used with their permission.