Her works stand out for the intertwining of natural and surreal elements, composing multidimensional narratives.
Ramina
Forms beaming with light
Text: Marni Hatziemmanouil
Radiant iridescent colors, multilayered visual art narratives, but also an unrestrained freedom of expression that paves new ways for the discourse between man and nature, are the identifying features of collage artist Ramina, whose art evokes presuppositions, interactions, approaches and incorporations.
Ramina was born in the city of Kilkis and was raised by a family that deeply appreciated art. Her first spark for the art world was ignited thanks to her parents, who encouraged her from a really young age to explore her creativity and discover her personal expression. In her view, the creative process is a passageway for all the things that nest inside of her to come out in the open, but also a means to offer love, as in her early days she used to give away most of her works as gifts to friends. She started experimenting really soon in her career with several forms of art, working with a wide range of materials, such as wood, beads, strands, paints, candles etc.
Ramina lives and works in Thessaloniki as a mixed media visual artist, specializing in the analogue collage. Over the last six years her works have been showcased in international exhibitions and art projects. “I feel immensely grateful for the warm reception by the audience in the US, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain. Traveling is a source of inspiration for me, as it provides me with the chance to get acquainted with various cultures, collect new materials and develop my techniques.”
Her works stand out for the intertwining of natural and surreal elements, composing multidimensional narratives. “My personal style, marked by the careful selection and placing of various elements, reflects my identity as an artist. Every work of mine has more than one story to unfold, allowing different perspectives that depend on the eyes of the beholder.”
Her inspiration stems both from nature and human relations. “Integrating and foregrounding nature in my work is a thrilling process, as nature is an inexhaustible source of inspiration, filled with colors, textures and shapes directly linked to our environment and the world around us. In my works I try to encompass the beauty and the force of nature, but also the everlasting interaction of human beings with their natural milieu.” She also admits being infatuated by “the dynamics of emotions, how they can define, change and motivate us. Every work of mine is an exploration of how we collide and identify with nature, the environment and people. My aim through this elaboration is for something innovative and genuine to emerge.”
Integrating and foregrounding nature in my work is a thrilling process, as nature is an inexhaustible source of inspiration, filled with colors, textures and shapes directly linked to our environment and the world around us. In my works I try to encompass the beauty and the force of nature, but also the everlasting interaction of human beings with their natural milieu.
Ramina opts for vivid colors that attract attention and trigger direct emotional reactions. “Pink holds a special place in my creations. To me, pink whispers the notions of love and sensibility, while also expressing the concepts of power or resistance,” she points out, while also stating her preference for paper, as “it is endowed with endless possibilities, and most importantly, it can be recycled and reused, gaining a new life through creation.” She has recently started to experiment with other materials as well, such plastic bottles, clay, filler liquid glass and cloth. “The mixture of different materials comes up in my work every time that pops up a new idea that requires different textures or the need to combine the organic with the industrial. Every material has its own character and adds a unique dimension in the work.”
Ramina acknowledges the rotation between solitude and extroversion as the key balancing factor in her life as an artist. “The hours of loneliness and isolation are part of the creative process, as they allow me to delve into ideas and take a closer look at details. On the hand, art also often leads to situations of intense openness. Exhibitions, workshops and collaborations entail high levels of interaction.”
According to Ramina, talent serves as the bedrock and springboard for every artist, while adding that love and resilience are the traits that help you discover your true potential. “I once suffered a total artist’s block that rendered me unable to convey my inspiration. It was a difficult stage of my life, but it helped me realize how precious these two elements are, as they keep you moving on even when inspiration seems to have faded away. They are the base that keeps you going, that urges you to persist and rediscover your creativity.”
She went on to stress the great importance she attributes to collaborations and partnerships. “I dream for my art to reach out to a bigger audience, to explore new techniques and materials, to take part in exhibitions, and engage in collaborations that will take me one step higher, giving me the chance to mature as an artist.” From her standpoint, every artist needs to find a way to interweave the past with the present, casting a glance on the here-and-now. “It’s always important to bring forth something fresh and new, but it’s equally important to offer something that touches the audience and challenges it to think and feel differently. Artists don’t always need to put forward something entirely new, but it’s more than necessary to gaze at the world through a personal and original point of view.”
As for the acceptance by the audience, Ramina perceives it as a reciprocal communication rather than as a mere act of reward. “When I see people getting connected to my work and recognize something that touches them deeply or incites them to think, it feels like a dream. When the audience responds, in any way whatsoever that may happen, I feel that my art is gifted with a meaning and a purpose. At the end of the day, acceptance goes way beyond than an outward confirmation; it’s an inner strength that encourages me to carry on my creative journey.”
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