As part of our series of interviews with 2024 Golden Trezzini Awards nominees, we spoke with St. Petersburg sculptor Antonina Fatkhullina, a 2022 laureate and 2024 nominee.
Golden Trezzini Awards: How do you define yourself — as a painter or as a sculptor? And why?
Antonina Fatkhullina: As an artist-sculptor. It's a broader concept; it's very important to be an artist first. To think more broadly, to work in different media. I like painting and graphics, video and photography, even jewelry. But there's very little time for all that. Sculpture is still my primary way of interacting with the world around me. It's a love of volume in space, of material, of subject. It's a kind of passion! There aren't many sculptors; it's quite hard, labor-intensive, long (and often unprofitable) work — and it can only be done when a person cannot exist without it.
Golden Trezzini Awards: Which artists or works of art have helped you choose this path?
Antonina Fatkhullina: I have been influenced by many factors. First of all, an interest from early childhood in small, voluminous things. It was clay and samples of Russian folk toys (Dymkovo, Kargopol). Later, in school — examples from art history, ancient sculpture, sculpture of Greece, Egypt, Gothic (especially flamboyant Gothic).
In different periods, I liked different authors or, more precisely, some particular works of artists such as Lehmbruck, Rodin, Modigliani, Michelangelo, Marino Marini, Antony Gormley, Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Damien Hirst, Yves Klein.
Golden Trezzini Awards: What inspires you to create new works?
Antonina Fatkhullina: Art for me is a way of living this life, a process similar to breathing. Absolutely anything can inspire me: fleeting impressions, books, concepts, thoughts, conversations, interesting places, exhibitions, dreams, etc. Sometimes the works come in a visually finished form — then they are done quickly (as if someone is making them through you), and sometimes it takes time for some rethinking of the form, doubts and corrections. There is no single way or recipe.
Golden Trezzini Awards: What materials and technologies do you use in your work and why?
Antonina Fatkhullina: I have tried different materials. At one time, I was very fond of ceramics — it is colored and clay is tactile. When you work with wood, it smells good. But mostly I work with graphic sculptures in metal using welding techniques. I am attracted to the airiness, scale, and lightness of objects — both visually and physically. My technique is similar to printmaking in volume. But sometimes I want sculptural density, and then there are volumetric elements in works or whole works in classical technique.
Golden Trezzini Awards: Your project “Lions at Chernaya River” brought you an Honourable Mention Certificate at the 2022 Golden Trezzini Awards. What is the current fate of this project? Is it really facing restoration?
Antonina Fatkhullina: “Lions at Chernaya River” is one of my favorite projects; this work is near my house, and you can pass it every day on the way to the studio. They were installed as part of the 2021 Waterfront Festival and are still standing. Due to the harsh climate in our city, all sculptures are periodically restored and often even removed from the site. However, the lions will be cleaned of dust and dirt and repainted on site.
At the moment, one lion has been cleaned. Soon it will be the turn of the second one! Birds are fed right next to the sculptures, which of course increases the time needed for cleaning and washing. Although the sculptures do not belong to the city, they are on the author's balance sheet, and this is not a very stable commercial basis. Last year, there was no opportunity or time for seasonal painting and cleaning.
The fact that this project was awarded the Golden Trezzini Honourable Mention is certainly a nice fact. It also increases the likelihood that the sculpture will remain at the site for a longer period of time, perhaps even permanently. External support and the response of the professional community to such introductions into the city's infrastructure are very important. There are some negative comments, but they are rarely justified and rather reflect a general prejudice against anything new. But this is the message that is more active in the energy sector and often results in all sorts of letters to the KGA [Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture] or the district administration. I know that many people (especially the residents of the nearby houses) like the lions themselves and the solution of the descent to the water. But they don't write letters about how much they like it! It's a silent admiration. Also, many don't know that this is a temporary project.
Golden Trezzini Awards: Tell us about your project “Freefall Parkour”, nominated for 2024 Golden Trezzini Awards, and the challenges you faced during its realization.
Antonina Fatkhullina: It is a project permanently installed on a sports field in the Frunzensky district. It is my largest sculpture in the city in terms of size. It was an interesting experience to develop a sculpture on a roughly given theme at the request of a construction company. The emphasis was placed on the fact that it should be a contemporary sculpture, and the approach to the selection of the sketch was very appropriate and systematic. First of all, a sketch was chosen from several drawn sketches.
I would like to thank the officials of the district administration and the company “Dortechnologii” for their caring approach! As the author, I am grateful for the choice of the design (it was one of the most difficult variants of the composition) and for the decision on the material: they found funds for stainless steel, which, of course, is many times more expensive than ordinary steel. But the appearance of the sculpture wins — the sculpture is silver in color, and maintenance is easier (no need for painting).
All in all, it was a great new experience to work with stainless steel and to cut twenty thousand rings from the purchased tubes. The work itself took place in the summer. There was such a movie — “Missing Summer” — it is about my summer of 2023. I did not need to rest even once in it! But I managed to work very hard, as it often happens. It is difficult to delegate part of the work to someone else; there are few such specialists — both sculptors and welders at the same time. At the same time, it is always a big project, and even installed in the city — it is a lot of nerves and unplanned situations. But the main thing is that the sculpture stands. Even though it is a remote area Kupchino — it is in its own way a beautiful place, where you can feel the flow of people, a lot of kids and teenagers, and a lot of voiced words of gratitude.
Golden Trezzini Awards: What do you think is the role of art objects and sculptures in historical and new urban spaces?
Antonina Fatkhullina: Basically, they should be points of attraction, some new interesting solutions, ideally great art and new landmarks.
Golden Trezzini Awards: How do you see the future of public art in the city, the country, the world? What new trends could emerge in the coming years?
Antonina Fatkhullina: I would like to see the emergence of interesting contemporary art in the best sense of the word. But of course, subjectivity is inevitable, which is why a professional community is necessary. There will be different trends because the world is very different. But let's look in the right direction!
Golden Trezzini Awards: What does it mean to you to be nominated for the Golden Trezzini Awards at the State Hermitage Museum? Why is it important for contemporary artists to participate in such awards?
Antonina Fatkhullina: The awards promote a favorable atmosphere for interesting projects, including those related to architectural and sculptural solutions in public spaces.
Golden Trezzini Awards: What qualities do you think are necessary to become a successful Russian artist? Give us Antonina Fatkhullina's three tips for aspiring authors!
Antonina Fatkhullina: I don't really like to give advice unless I'm asked specifically... Everyone is very different, and what suits me may not suit someone else. You have to know who you're giving advice to and in what situation — that's very important. But I'll try! First of all, it is important to be able to listen to yourself — some people do it more intellectually, others more emotionally. Secondly, it is necessary to be able to work and love to work. It is said that “if you find a job you really like, you won't work a single day”. This is very important for your life in general. And thirdly, it is necessary to do what you are most interested in, what you want to do, do not rest — just for the moment, for you personally, sincerely, truly. Then it will give you strength and mutual energy. Don't waste time regretting the past, just take it into account.
Golden Trezzini Awards: Thank you, Antonina, good luck at the Awards ceremony in November!
Photo courtesy of Antonina Fatkhullina.
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