CREATIVE DOSSIER: Sofya Danilova is a photographer who has chosen the path to creating her own style

 

Sofya Danilova chose the path to creating her own style of images after 15 years of experience in portrait, product and advertising photography. Over the past two years, her works have visited more than ten European exhibitions in Italy, Spain, Great Britain and Germany. Lives and works in Kyiv.

 

What is the first creative moment in your life you remember?

At the age of seven, I decided to take a picture of something and open the camera to immediately see the result. It was a film camera, and there were a lot of white shots. But for me this very moment forever determined the principle “I need to see what I am doing”. This is why I never started shooting on film. In all of my kaleidoscopes, I value the images that I can see and develop.

 

 

What is your creative ambition?

To be honest with yourself, “I want this” and “I can not do this”. It was a conscious decision after experiencing serious health problems. I was 21. Then I radically changed my life.

I am grateful for these events for my lifestyle now — for the newfound harmony and complete peace with myself. It’s like a filter that is always inside and always works in different situations — how I feel, what is my attitude to it, do I want to continue?

And I always have the right to answer myself, “I don’t want to, it’s time to change something”.

 

How do you start your day?

I start my day by taking care of my loved ones. First time for those whom I love, then —coffee, and only then business. Basic habits of my family. There is a tradition of weekend breakfasts. Also there is a habit of going out somewhere together.

But there are also habits that grow like an algae on a stone — for example, going to the shop next to the studio where I print my work. They sell great art books. I bought a stunning publication of Art Deco posters and illustrations there.

 

 

What are the vital steps towards realizing a creative conception?

Do something new every day, think about it, develop, constantly create — and do not forget to show it to others. Typically, you cannot appreciate your own work.

 

What is your attitude towards money, power, fame, rivals, work, play?

These are words from a sphere that for me has nothing to do with creativity. I do not compete with anyone, I do not strive for power or victory over someone — I am looking for new meanings and aspire to get them to the surface so that others can see them. Art is very subjective and ambiguous, so any artist and photographer has an audience, the main thing is to find it. I don’t think I’ve found mine already.

 

 

How do you react when facing a person with superior intelligence or talent?

When I come across someone who seems to me smarter or more talented, I try to spend as much time as possible with that person in order to learn more about him. Talent is very often the result of hard work. I wonder how a person came to this, what happened in his life. This is a unique experience.

 

 

When you work, do you like more the process or the result?

Result. The creative process may never end, but it can always be judged only by the steps you have taken, by the results at each time interval. In the last six months I have had a period when there was not a single finished picture — only specs.

The process seems to be going on, but according to my feelings I cannot say that I have made some progress until there is a result. I hope to break the silence very soon.

 

 

At what point do you feel that your desires exceed your capabilities?

Always. I can always come up with an idea and express it with words, but for its implementation I will have to spend days, weeks, months. And I will really want to get exactly what I see in my head, but in reality something completely different will turn out.

 

What is the definition of skill for you?

Mastery is the acquisition of your own language, which allows you to say anything to people who came to listen or even just passed by. This is the control line for the interface of reality. The foundation, the versatile tool that needs an attachment to something that the owner will create.

 

 

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Fragments of the professional dossier of recent years:

2020

● Loosenart, Abstractions Exhibition

● Loosenart, The Man and The Machine Exhibition

● Boomer Gallery, Color Boom II Exhibition

 

2021

● Artbox Gallery, World 1.0 Exhibition

● Florence Contemporary Gallery, Far, But Close Exhibition

● Art Room Gallery, Open Exhibition

● Loosenart, Language Exhibition

● Art Show International, Exhibition ABSTRACT-2

● Barcelona Contemporary Art Fair

● M.A.D.S Gallery, DE.MO during Milan Design Week

● Florence Biennale XIII

● Larnaca Biennale II

● M.A.D.S Gallery, Hysterica

● M.A.D.S Gallery, Sacrifice