24181 Special Issue metal frame to withstand its weight. There was also important to fill with styrofoam to lighten the weight. I think of this project as the monument for the city park. You often create large sculptures that provide the viewers with such immersive visual experience: how do the dimensions affect your workflow? Irina Bula: Making even a small sculpture is a very time-consuming process. At first, I have to sculpt from clay then make the mold out of plaster. And then cast copy in plaster. The same principle applies to making a wax model from sculpture but using a silicone mold. Only then can the wax model be cast in bronze using the sandy mold. But it needs special equipment, a room and a furnace for melting bronze. I usually go to Dutch workshop to get help to do this. After casting, sculpture looks like a rusty ingot with many defects. I sand the surface with a grinder machine, polish and tint the last stage. Bronze is harder than stone, so it harder to process, but more durable and resistant. With their powerful narrative drive «Kiss», «United», «Motherhood», «Warmth of the heart» communicate deep sense of connection: how do your memories and your everyday life's experience fuel your creative process? Irina Bula: The series of works «Kiss», «United», «Motherhood», «Warmth of the heart», are made using this technology and are dedicated to simple, everyday life. Those who are able to give up egoism and show love for another, for nature. Art, in my understanding, is meant to help one discover an organic, multifaceted world beyond what is visible. Things that cannot be touched are much more important. We can’t touch friendship, faith, love, or courage. But it’s so much more real. When I worked as an art teacher for children, I watched them feel the world. My experience with them inspired me to create a sculpture called «Meeting», that depicts a child and his friend-a dog. I imagined them as one common whole and inseparable part of nature. We can learn from children strong friendships, sincere devotion, and kindness. Art is another reality that helps one see the meaninglessness of bustle, emptiness of what fills its life. We are all hostages of the frantic speed of life, the many affairs, temptations, and the pursuit of sensations. The sculpture slows down movement, stops time, and allows us to notice the small things around you and new sense of life. Your sculpture «To the future» seem to draw inspiration from spirituality and we appreciated the way it conveys such deep feelings: how important is for your the spiritual dimension? Irina Bula: Art, faith can enlighten a man. In particular, I turn to stories from the scriptures in my artwork that answer all questions, reveal the cause of our suffering, and what we are truly called upon to do. Man is not only a material being associated with nature, but also a spiritual being in his mind. It is by raising the level of understanding of the world, of Life, that the human being attains his Divine Conscience and lives on the basis of that Conscience in his divine quality. How much of our Conscience will be able to connect and immerse ourselves in God’s communication not in the flow of events, but one-on-one. The Holy Scripture brings us back to God, His Word and His Law. God gives our souls the ability to acquire peace by being filled with His Irina Bula ART Habens
Special Issue supernatural consolation and joy. The expression of these ideas was implemented in the sculpture «To the future». I’ve been thinking about and working on it for several years. That was really interesting, complex work with using new gilding technique, just for experiment. I exhibited a sculpture together with a painting similar in plot, which made one overall composition, for emphasis. Eventually, my efforts were justified when the dialogue with audience took place and my work evoked many questions and joint deliberation. Well, it’s especially unexpected when my sculpture was awarded by the jury. Since 2001, have regularly participated in various exhibitions and charity events in many cities : Paris, Hamburg, Monaco, Moscow, Barcelona. It was fruitful cooperation with the Belgian Association of Artists « le reflet de nos différence» for me. We have really appreciated the multifaceted nature of your artistic research and before leaving this stimulating conversation we would like to thank you for chatting with us and for sharing your thoughts, Irina. What projects are you currently working on, and what are some of the ideas that you hope to explore in the future? Irina Bula: I got invited to participate in an international exhibition in France. So, I plan to exhibit in Festival d’Art sacré de Compiègne for all religions and spiritual practices. However, it’s particularly close to me the monumental sculpture of large sizes and solid materials. I‘m gonna keep to participating in design competitions for architecture sites. I think these topics will remain a priority for me and I associate my plans with it. I hope to find interested organizations with implementing come of my projects on large scale. I would like to try miself in new quality and develop new opportunities. 24193 ART Habens Irina Bula
24201 Special Issue Irina Bula ART Habens