Diana Rainova is an established Bulgarian sculptor born in Paris who has exhibited her work nationally. Her sculptures display elegance and polish, movement and emotion. We sat down with Diana to talk about current projects, her inspiration, and the start of her artistic career.
When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
I was born into a family of artists. My mother and father, Stella Rainova and Boyan Rainov, are both sculptors, while my grandfather, Nikolay Rainov, was a Bulgarian writer, art critic, and artist. I had already decided for myself that I would take the thorny path of art as well. The freedom to create can’t be easily ignored.
Can you talk about your artistic influences and other artists you are most inspired by?
During my time as a student at the National Academy of Arts I admired sculpture a lot. Sculptors who especially impressed me were Ossip Zadkine, Jean Arp, and Henry Moore with his unique synthesis between sculpture and architecture. Strangely enough, after the falling of the “Iron Curtain”, 30 years later, I met with my father again when he was living and working in Paris.
After seeing his works, I was inspired by his sculptures. Its figurative shapes looked to me like stones in a river – so clean, precise, and pure in expression. We both sat in his studio in Antony, talking about art for days. This talk gave me a significant new perspective on sculptural art in general.
Do you prefer to work alone or collaborate with others?
As a youngster, I worked extensively with other sculptors on monumental urban projects, but I definitely prefer to work alone. My reason for being alive is the world that surrounds me. Through the process of giving birth to a figurative form, I express my feelings for this world: my love, admiration, or resentment. When I work alone, I like to feel the shapes with my hands, touching their own structural language.
What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t an artist?
For about 5 years I was a sculptural art teacher at the High School of Fine Arts in Sofia. I like teaching and working with children. Through this exchange – combined with their interest in sculpture – I feel enriched. Besides that, I might also be doing some charity work as it has always attracted me.
Now I am a mother and grandmother who loves taking care of her family. I admit that I have not been able to sacrifice my loved ones in the name of art. I keep things running in parallel.
We must help each other in order to live in a better world.
Can you tell us about a project you’re currently working on?
The topic I am currently interested in and the one I am working on is the ‘Motherhood: The Woman and Her Many Functions’. I love matter and I have a very deep respect for it. Matter is the one from which the form is born.
Have you found any other artists on Singulart whose work you admire?
There are so many talented artists and sculptors working in different genres of fine art at Singulart. I am very impressed by the works of Valerie Cheno (France), Silvia Pavlova (Bulgaria), Rie Kono (Japan), Ognyan Chitakov (Bulgaria), and Alessandro Siviglia (Italy).
It’s the meaning of art actually – the sharing, the equality.
What advice could you give to young artists starting out?
Never give up despite the obstacles you may face – it is not worth it! Also, do not seek the audience to say to you, “Oh, this artist has done something that no one else has done.” – the balance comes in those moments when the viewer feels the same feelings you have experienced while you were creating the artwork.
