10 Questions with Adrianna Wasinska-Fabian

Al-Tiba9 Art Magazine ISSUE13 | Featured Artist

Adrianna Wasinska-Fabian is an Australia-based artist, a horse-riding instructor, and a passionate naturalist and traveler. In 2004 she graduated with a Master's Degree in painting and etching from the prestigious and highly prized Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice (Poland). Through her academic years, she developed her signature style by combining traditional drawing techniques with her unique approach to subjects. Adrianna's biggest and finest inspiration is nature-especially horses. Her works are an infiltration of biological and behavioral knowledge; this form of expression is combined with abstract visualization and interpretation of these magnificent animals. Since 2017 Adrianna has been running a successful art studio in Lake Coogee, Perth. This dedication to her studio practice has resulted in multiple exhibitions around Australia and Europe. In 2021, her drawings were included in the National Gallery in Northern Macedonia collection. Adrianna's artworks have been recognized by private collectors and art juries worldwide. She has won many art competitions. Adrianna is proudly represented by Paard Verzameld Collective.

www.adriannawasinskafabian.com | @adriannawasinskafabian

ARTIST STATEMENT

Adrianna's work evokes nature. It is her biggest and finest inspiration. Nature enables her to be a part of something bigger; it expands her perspective and liberates her from the outside world. The strong connection she has with it gives her freedom and power during the process of creating. The process, which is always long and unclear, is a mixture between her intellectual and empiric experiences. The drawings come from the deepest part of her soul, born from the circumstances and challenges she faced. The artist believes that a continuously changing nature is mirroring her life and defining her drawings. Her subject matter offers Adrianna an unlimited interpretation of life, movement, and the spirit than runs them all.

***Horses***, Japanese ink and fine liner on 200 gsm Canson paper, variable dimensions, 2015/2018 © Adrianna Wasinska-Fabian

INTERVIEW

First, how did you get involved with art, and what influenced you to follow this path?

The second word I spoke as a baby was "horse"! I was fascinated by these majestic animals. Not My Little Pony. Or Pegasus. Not pretty, colourful unicorns. Strong. Black. Horses. I never got over them. The moment I was allowed to ride those beautiful beasts, I felt a spiritual communion between two living forms. Me, and the horse. Inseparable from that moment and for eternity. They have never stopped teaching me and framing my philosophy of life. Before I could read, I would sit for hours staring at art albums by the famous Kossak family, renowned horse and generalist artists in Poland. Throughout primary and high school, I naturally gravitated to both art and equestrian pursuits. The discipline of both prepared me for highly competitive and highly-prized admission to the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland. I won. I received scholarships throughout my academic years and was unbridled with my intention to learn and experience all I could in that demanding, diligent, academic environment.

How did you develop into the artist you are today?

Being an artist never halts; it is a lifelong process. I learned not to follow blindly the directions spelled out in numerous histories of drawing. Rather, my drawings attempt to defy old worn-out art matrices. I endeavour to produce a specific signature style, not mimic the successes of the old. My personality leads me to go beyond the established academic rules.
Drawing is a basic tool for any artist, the launching pad to everything. Creating artworks with just the line itself becomes my means of expression. It frames my existence and how I live and approach my life.

Nature is a key source of inspiration in your work. How did you develop this interest in Nature? Did you grow up in Nature, or is it something you discovered at an older age?

I grew up in a large mining city in Katowice, Poland. Pathos and darkness in the mining culture were strong and ever-present. I could never identify, so I completely disconnected from my dark and gloomy surroundings.
The devastation of nature on such a big scale made me feel dysfunctional on many levels.
Fortunately, I was able to travel a lot. And ride horses. My parents seeded in me respect and love for nature. Growing up, I discovered that I was a part of something bigger and stronger than our civilization. Nature, especially horses, became a living inspiration in my life, and art practice connected me to the world.

You now live in Australia, quite an inspiring and diverse region with different natural environments. How is this helping or influencing your art?

Ironically, I moved across the world from a dark underground mining landscape to Australia's west coast. Perth and the northwest of Western Australia are home to an expansive mining industry, ever-present and above the ground. Besides the irony, I found something else in the Australian environment which connects me with the land and nature.
Is it awareness and respect for the peoples, stories, and ancient spirits so deeply imbedded in nature by Australia's indigenous peoples, the guardians of this ancient southern land for millennia.
I am a visitor to their spiritual land but pay deep respect to the pulse, the movement in space, waves rising and decreasing. Repetitive forms of rhythm cross this extraordinary landscape -- the oldest rock and land formations, overwhelming and never-ending deserts, and extraordinary flora and fauna. I feel the pulse.

Let's talk about horses, a fundamental subject in your work. Why did you choose this animal specifically? And what do they represent for you?

Horses mirror my life. They are nomads like me. I have lived in different countries over the years and finally settled down in Australia. Horses demand authenticity. They respond to personal integrity. Mental and emotional balance, for me as an artist, is a fundamental part of the process of creating my art. The process is exceptionally long and unclear. It is always a mixture of intellectual and empirical experiences. My drawings show the panorama of emotions - the complexity of human nature and the purity of the horse.

Your drawings are powerful in expressing the force and movement of horses, yet they almost look abstract. How do you achieve this result?

My art practice reflects and redefines horses as an art subject. My knowledge is visceral from decades of being an equestrian. My visual language enhances the essence and understanding of these amazing animals.
Intuition and academic investigation informed me about the anatomy of a horse. Artists who conquer life drawing understand human anatomy; I call upon my anatomic and holistic knowledge of the horse. I always aim to transcend the formal and traditional representations of them.
I use traditional drawing techniques and an achromatic palette. Two colours, black and white, mean the biological structure of the drawings is cleaned of all addition and reduced to the visualization of the very idea and symbol of the horse.

Ultimately, what messages do you want to convey with this series?

I hope my drawings speak directly to human emotions and vulnerabilities, shared and exchanged. This idea has been referenced in art and mythology for millennia, from ancient Greek to Asia. Nature can become our safety net, and if we put our masks down and let it in and feel it, we can become hybrid with it. One organism.

You primarily work with drawing. Is there any other medium or technique you would like to experiment with?

I believe drawing is my essence. I feel the most comfortable working with it. My practice has evolved through the years, and I am always trying to push my boundaries with new mediums.
My newest series of drawings are drawn on handmade Amate paper from Mexico. Traditional drawing techniques and acrylic and texture paste create more depth, tension, and dramatic images.

You have exhibited extensively, and you are currently represented by Paard Verzameld Collective. What do you think of the art community and market? And how do you approach them?

As an artist in the modern world, I can build my image and be visible on different platforms. Not every artist is comfortable with the digital world; however, it has brought me to an international audience and open discussions with other professionals.
I choose to live in the most isolated capital city in the world. Yet, I can easily connect through the digital world. I am so grateful for the easily accessible communication, artistic integrity, and skill available to me. They nourish me.

Lastly, what are you working on right now? Do you have any new projects or series you are currently developing?

I am very excited to have a solo exhibition in August this year. I will be exhibiting at Lost Eden Creative in Dwellingup. The gallery has also invited me for an Artist Residency, so for three weeks, I will do what I love the most. Surrounded by beautiful nature in Lane Pool Reserve (Western Australia.), I will execute my new drawing series 'Into the Woods' and 'Connection' - and ride horses.
I will take this experience to my international audience and galleries.

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10 Questions with Adrianna Wasinska-Fabian

Al-Tiba9 Art Magazine ISSUE13 | Featured Artist

ARTIST STATEMENT

INTERVIEW

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