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Article for Independent Times /Malta/ 2006
Until the first of December, the Moldavian artist Anastasiya Ponyatovskaya is exhibiting her paintings in Sopo’s Coffee House at the Independent Square in Victoria. She will also exhibit her works during one day at the Luxol Sports Club, on Saturday 2 December. Her unique style and the wide range of art techniques she exploits make her an all-round and surprising artist.
Ms Ponyatovskaya had attended the Academy of Arts in the Republic of Moldova for 5 years and the Russian Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg Russia for 4 years. In 2004, she became a member of the Moldova Union of Artists. She participated in many art exhibitions in Moldova and abroad including Russia, Germany, Latvia, Italy and the Maltese islands. To further her experiences she relocated in Gozo, where she now continues her work and studies.
Entering the wonderful world of this young artist, people can realise how many talents she has. Her creations include icons, batiks, graphics, oil paintings, watercolours, bas-reliefs and jewelry. She has a real passion for art, always trying to find something new to discover and apply. But whatever the type of media she uses, her creations always stick to her unique style.
“I have been interested in art since my childhood,” she explained.  “And my interest never stopped. I wanted to do something more interesting than to remain inactive watching TV for example.” She mounted her first exhibition at the age of seven at Gaudeamus cinema, in Chisinau, capital city of Moldova. Then she never lost her child imagination and carried on exploiting the imaginary world of children. Dream, fantasy and a bit of craziness are the main features of her creations.
Speaking about her influences, Ms Ponyatovskaya stressed that she prefers modern art, like the Russian Mikhail Vrubel and the Austrian Gustav Klimt. “But I am also inspired by old arts, like the Maya and the Inca cultures, especially their architectural design,” she claimed “It is really interesting to mix all the cultures from everywhere and all-time. I like to travel because it offers a good experience to discover other forms of art expression, other cultures. It broadens your mind. I am always looking for new ideas, new inspirations. That is why I need to meet a lot of persons.”
Through her art, she likes to rethink heritages and old traditions, giving them a new life. On the interior and exterior bas-reliefs she makes, she enjoys showing Egyptian and Mayan images in a more imaginative way. Her batik creations are also a good example of her wide inspiration. Batik style came from Indonesia. It refers to art works that are hand painted on natural cotton or silk. There are 5 kinds of batik paintings - cold, hot, tie-dye, mixed or free-style- that she likes to use and combine.
Ms. Ponyatovskaya also exploits these numerous talents to realise some interior designs and decorations mostly in private houses. “I’m making some wall covering with bas-reliefs or using oil and watercolour paintings. I’m painting on curtains or tapestry too, using the technique of batik. I can make icons, stained glass objects or sculptures as well,” she said. And with her knowledge she also has the ability to restore old icons.
Making icons is one of her main talents. She realised them on antiquated wood using a 15th century egg tempera technology. “I use really old techniques. I can’t find my paints in a shop, so I have to make some mixtures in order to create them. I also incorporate some gold of 22 carats.” Iconography usually deals with religious representations. As for Ms Ponyatovskaya, she mixes religion with creativeness, making some variations of the usual religious symbols. “I am inspired by orthodox culture of course,” she explained. “But I found new inspirations in other countries and culture. Now for example, I am painting some Buddhas. In my opinion, we all have the same god but with different faces. Yet, when I make some variations I always respect some limits, I have my own guidelines.”
She used to make some graphics and to deal with the techniques of lithography and xylography. But she explained that these techniques are really difficult and require a lot of patience. What is more, she really prefers to use colours that give another dimension in her creations. “I used to draw some portraits too,” she added. “But I don’t like it very much, I prefer to give free reins to my imagination and put a bit of dreams and craziness in my creations.” Ms Ponyatovskaya’s universe is like a big fairy tale, full of magic and dreams. And who can illustrate better than her some books that symbolize the world of imagination?
Through her paintings, the artist is always trying to tell a story, catching the children’s attention as well as the adults’. Everyone is invited to escape from reality. However, Ms Ponyatovskaya explained that she always tries to include people in her paintings in order to make a link with the reality. In this way, the viewer can identify oneself with the picture. “I like to mix the reality with dreams. This makes our lives more interesting,” she claimed and this makes also her work full of surprises. 
The sensitiveness of the artist is perceptible both in her creations and the way she used them. “My idea is to make some paintings which could stimulate people to think, to create their own opinions and then to dream,” she explained. She strives to soothe the souls, to create an opportunity to forget for a moment the daily stress of our modern societies. “I am trying to transform a bad situation in a good one, to make things more peaceful, creating a serene atmosphere.”
One of her desires is also to promote art among all types of people. Exhibiting in a sport club in December will be an unusual experience, giving art the opportunity to be shown not only in museums and galleries. Moreover she took part in sales whose benefits have been given to the Eden foundation in Gozo. This association strives to help people with developmental disability to live and participate in the community on equal terms as others, providing them various services.
“For me, to move in Gozo was a new experience, a new culture to discover,” Ms Ponyatovskaya declared. “Everything was different and I could find new bases for my inspiration.” She started to take some lessons at the Gozo School of Art and Craftsso as to learn much more about Maltese art. “You learn during all your life,” she claimed. “And it is important to remain open and not to make always the same things. I am trying to show how art can be different, how it can evolve. I like to make a lot of connections, combining local landscapes with dreams and influences from other countries. I want to bring something new in art, by using the traditions and adding them something new.” And she really succeeds in.

To know more about the artist and her creations, please refer to her website: arteforte.net

Karine Paraquit, Mata Independent.