In this interview, we delve into the world of MARIA POPRAVKO, who share her inspirations and unique perspectives.
1. Introduce Yourself to the Casawi Community: What drives you? What's your artistic vision, and what sets you apart from the crowd?
Iʼm an oil painter currently living and working from my studio in Singapore. I grew up in a small, cold town in Siberia and have been painting for as long as I remember myself. A decade ago, I took a leap of faith and moved from the harsh winter to the steamy tropics. Iʼve always been driven by a desire to see distant lands, a sense of adventure, and unique encounters. Living in Asia has given me the opportunity to travel a lot. For the first time I witnessed volcanos, jungles, ocean and the indigenous communities of Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam with their distinct lifestyles and traditions. I seek to uncover mysteries of our past, preciousness of nature, and our connection to ancient knowledge. I want to immortalise these scenes and moments that might soon vanish. My artistic practice is deliberate and unhurried. I find joy in the slow, meticulous process of creation, often spending hours, weeks, or months on a single piece. My focus is not on speed or novelty, but on creating meaningful work that requires effort and speaks for itself.
2. City Inspirations: How has your city influenced your artistic path? Share how its streets, culture, and energy have molded your work.
Growing up in a small Siberian town, surrounded by endless forests and lakes, Iʼve always felt connection with the land. I spent my childhood painting landscapes and wildlife, looking up to the great Russian painters like Shishkin, Surikov and Repin. Life was slow in my post-Soviet hometown - without distractions like the internet, I explored the outdoors, and watched the changing seasons. I believe this taught me to observe and appreciate the present moment, which is essential for painting realism. Now, I find myself in a completely different environment - tropical Singapore, a vibrant, multicultural, beautiful city-jungle. It's easy to get lost here in the greenery and find peace. This makes me feel truly at home; it brings back that familiar state of clarity and observation. Iʼm that kid again, always inspired to create.
3. Creative Process: What fuels your creativity? Whether it's a ritual, a muse, or a moment of clarity, we're keen to learn.
My biggest inspirations come from humbling moments where I feel small and insignificant. These often emerge while traveling to unique destinations – seeing magnificent views or experiencing cultures unlike any other. It's about observing the world in its raw form, rather than trying to intellectually analyse it. I get out of my own head and try to be a respectful viewer. I don't believe I 'create' ideas as much as I discover them. They've always existed, like the Universe itself. When a scene resonates with me deeply, I make a quick entry in my sketchbook. Back in my studio, I translate that emotion onto canvas in a way that feels most authentic to me. There's a sense of humility and satisfaction when I manage to capture the fundamental qualities of what I observed, even of seemingly ordinary objects like a leaf on the water.
4. City Lifestyle and Art: How the places you lived influenced your career and work?
I radically changed my environment, and with it, my colour palette shifted as well. In Siberia, with its very short summers, long winters and autumns, my palette consisted of earthy tones, and I favoured watercolours. Now my life in tropics is an endless summer. I explore deep greens, vibrant reds, and turquoise painting mostly in oil, which seems to be the perfect medium to capture those incredibly vivid colours and scenes. Bright red-orange has recently become my favourite, and it's present in most of my works. It all began with my trip to Northern Thailand, when I visited the remote hill tribe of the Karen indigenous people. What struck me was the bright red soil throughout the jungles and near the river - a memory that will stay with me forever. This eventually became the main motif of The Jungle Village - a set of postcards and few oil paintings I created later.
5. Latest or Upcoming Projects: Give us a glimpse into your current endeavors and what lies ahead on your creative journey.
At the moment I'm exploring the theme of connection between communities and their land. Iʼm preparing for my solo exhibition, Tales of Indonesia, featuring paintings inspired by my travels throughout the archipelago. This collection will include my latest works, such as Land of Flores, Volcanic Lake, and Sunrise over Komodo, alongside several other large- and medium-scale paintings currently in progress. Iʼm focusing on landscapes and portraits of indigenous communities, but only time will tell where this journey will lead me. Iʼve always been interested in vast ecosystems, the cosmos, our history, and our role within it, so I hope to incorporate these themes into my future works. I like to think there is no need to rigidly define myself. I prefer to be free from “I am thisˮ or “I am thatˮ. Embracing the “becomingˮ frees one from the standing too shallow.
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Photographer - Anna Pavlenko: @annabanana.sg
Makeup & Style - Sveta Klyn: @klyn.mua
Instagram: maria.popravko_art
Website: mariapopravkoart.com
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