About visions on art | Interview

What are the particularities of the life of an artist in Belgium, compared to Romania?

A specific aspect of the life of an artist in Belgium is a special freedom compared to Romania. Especially as a young artist, at the beginning of my career, I feel much more encouraged here than I could have imagined in Romania. Here I also managed to feel at home due to the fact that I was always supported: from teachers, to lecturers, partners and coordinators of the projects in which I participated.

I noticed, at least while I was in Romania, that there are not many people who strongly support art, or offer support to those who have artistic inclinations. Art is seen there as a kind of hobby, and it’s something that bothers me. And I have currently heard about such situations from acquaintances who have chosen to make art as their main activity, and it is something discouraging and sad. Thus the artist is not allowed to evolve in what they want to excel at.

Who is your audience?

My audience consists of people who have a sense of appreciation for various artistic techniques such as graphic design, photography, videography and mixed media. It is a diverse audience thanks to the services offered and the fact that I am flexible in the techniques and finishing possibilities of the products I offer.

Is there a collaboration, are partnerships born between Romanian artists in Belgium? If so, what are the advantages of pooling? If not, why?

Personally, I had partnerships with various people with different origins, I didn’t have a specific preference to work or not with Romanians. I know enough Romanians, but not enough Romanian artists. I cannot say whether there are enough people of Romanian origin active in this field, as I feel the need to discover which people are still part of the art world.

Is culture still a vector of education? How do you feel about access to cultural life in Belgium? How is it in the province? How do you perceive Brussels as a cultural area? Do these spheres intersect: Capital-Province?

Culture is an important pawn in education, but I am a follower of an education that allows the knowledge of as many cultures as possible so that the people who grew up or came here appreciate each other, because the basis of humanity is respect for our peers. Culture or nationality should not be seen as parameters of comparison, nor as barriers, but as aspects that contribute to the enrichment of our cultural frame of reference.

What do you think about trilingualism in Belgium? How does it affect your participation in cultural life? What about the Romanians in Belgium, in general?

Being fluent in 3 languages, namely Romanian, Dutch and English, I don’t consider that I have a problem in making myself understood. I have always spoken openly, with a lot of courage and the desire to learn, even from the moment I moved to Belgium in 2015.

At the moment I am a fully integrated Romanian-Belgian citizen who fully identifies with this country.

How would you describe your evolution before and after the 2020 leap year?

For me, 2020 seems to be a kind of barrier between 2 periods, considering that in 2020 I was going to enroll in the faculty of psychology, but in the same year I realized that my purpose is to give myself the strength to express myself as much as possible more artistic through my work. Since then I have made the decision to follow my calling by starting graphic design studies, which I will officially finish in early 2024. I am a person devoted to personal evolution through professional and moral excellence. The first aspect defines how passionately I do my work and how interested I am in what I do, and the second aspect refers to my adoration for the world, and the desire to share light and inspiration around me.

If your works were the chapters of a novel, who would be the main character or characters?

This question is perhaps the most fascinating. I love to evaluate, analyze and put my imagination to the test both in daily activities and professionally, where it is already a habit given the (photo-) graphic sector in which I am active. One of the main characters would be my grandmother, who is the source of my moral and creative inspiration, as explained in one of the the next questions.

What title would you give the novel?

My novel would probably be called “Werifesteria,” which is an Old English word that refers to wandering wistfully through the woods in search of mystery. It would illustrate the story of my personal and artistic development process, these two words at some point even becoming synonymous for me.

What are your sources of inspiration?

The only and most important source of inspiration is my grandmother, who raised me until I was 5 years old. She is someone who has unconditionally supported me in all my activities, all my projects and all my bold steps to create my own way in the world. Thanks to her I chose to change my name. This name, Ava Blanche represents my moral purpose as an artist and as a person, which is to follow peaceful horses, follow the light and share it as much as possible.

What is the mission of the artist, from your point of view?

The artist’s mission in my opinion is to try to visualize through their own perspectives certain thoughts and feelings that people generally experience. The purpose of a work is to look at it and feel what is not always easy or possible to describe. Sometimes words are appropriate, sometimes it’s more appropriate to communicate through colors or shapes. It remains the artist’s conscious decision to choose the most appropriate path, he or she based on his or her own thoughts, feelings, experiences.

Do you have a short-term goal to achieve? How abut long-term?

My short-term goal is of course to successfully complete my studies, as I truly feel that I have chosen what completely resonates with my being. In the long term, I want my company to evolve, and by that I mean to provide various services but which are done better and better and even more in line with my clients. I feel like I’m on the right track and I have no doubt that everything will go according to the plan, but it’s good to leave room for even better. Two very important aspects are to always look at new opportunities that come my way and to be open to the concept of correcting my work in a way that benefits as many of us as possible.

Interview taken by Daria Parvu, on 7th of April 2023.