INTERCONTINETAL
THROUGH HRISTIYANA IVANOVA'S LENS
By Federica Troia
20 FEBRUARY 2020
Have you seen the latest advertisement photos on women worker’s rights lately? The one with the bright colours, which has an apple in each one of them. Well, the artist, a 21 year-old breakout photographer, Hristiyana Ivanova from Bulgaria, has agreed to meet me last week to tell me the stories behind her pictures.
Giving your role in the media and general society, you think that this can influence young voters during the current political situations?
I believe that through media everything can be achieved. No long time ago media was a medium through which political propaganda was mostly generated. Presenting an idea through this means of communication draws a very thin line of what the truth is how much of it is true and even is truth objective. Therefore, yeah, media is a big influence, not only for young ones but also for every generation of voters.
You stated that in your works there is a 75% of your mind and 25% of different influences around you. What is your inspiration behind every piece?
I have always wondered how people rely on generic answers when they are asked this question when in reality it seems so easy to define your motivations. Since behind any artwork, there is more thought than inspiration, the process is contradictory. Inspiration is mostly provoked when you see an artist’s work and you want to be either as good as him or better. Which, finally is what my pieces are, a mix of other artist’s works, a provoked inspiration or even process.
Many consider “Hero” to be your masterpiece. Who is your hero?
I think is hard to define who my hero is. Heroes are some unreal creatures that do unbelievable stuff but at the same time have points of destruction. Many times in literature and in media people tend to give this description to anyone who proves to be more humane and kind than others. Therefore, a hero is someone who contributes to society and does more good than bad or even no bad at all, the utopia of God’s imagery. My hero is absent, a hero is nothing to me, and I believe it is just a useless word.
You have always chosen women to collaborate with. Why is that? And what do you think about the accusations of sexism?
To be completely honest I have no explanation on this matter. I have managed to create a team that works well, has a clear idea, and gives 100% to achieve their goal. That is the only thing that matters. It maybe sounds unbelievable that a crew of five women can do what men have been doing for years, and do it better and probably they find that offensive. And let them, let them be offended, let them fight for better positions, let them be. Sexism works for both sides, humanism as well, so have that in mind.
In all your interviews you have stated that all your works come to you like an explosion, you called it “Creative Big Bang”. Can you describe the process?
I feel the process is very unusual and different; there is no ritual behind it. It just happens, that is why it is the Creative Big Bang. You see a piece of art and you think “I wish I did that” and the next thing you know, you clap your hands and get to work.
Have you thought of your next project yet? What are you going to tell this time?
I have not decided yet. My next project will probably be something bizarre and provocative, generally widely hated.
