Alyona Voynova
Sand Artist
Born in Samara. Lives in Berlin since 2015.
Events
Art of Sand (Paintings)
02. - 30. Nov 2024
- NIO House, Kurfürstendamm 11, 10719 Berlin
Path to Creativity
In addition to academic painting and graphics, I have worked extensively in photography and design. Having started with sand animation in 2006, I have presented my projects in 14 countries, including Germany, France and China. And since 2010, I have been developing a unique technique of fixing sand on canvas, glass and other surfaces. This has allowed me to explore new horizons in working with this magical material. My sand animation performances have been projected onto the Brandenburg Gate, the Gallery building on Alexanderplatz and the Konzerthaus on Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin, among other locations. I was also delighted to be invited on the television programs of Stefan Raab, Johannes B. Kerner, Patrick Sebastian and other famous presenters as a guest. Winner of the "Krone der Volksmusik" award in the "Crossover" category. Participant in various significant cultural events in many countries around the world. Fixed sand paintings are among the collections of such companies as AUDI, ŠKODA, STOLLWERK, as well as in private collections in Germany, England, South Korea.
Passion for Sand
Sand is familiar to each of us since childhood. We played with it, built castles and felt its texture on our palms. But there is much more hidden in sand than it seems at first glance. For me, sand is not just a material, but a natural living substance that carries the power and energy of the earth. I feel the depth and great potential in it. My path in creativity began as a child, when I sculpted, drew, burned and embroidered. These early experiences laid the foundation for my deep interest in studying materials. In 2006, I started doing sand animation. These are ephemeral live paintings that disappear in the blink of an eye. And over time, I wanted to find a way to preserve that beauty. I began to study the methods of fixing sand on various surfaces, striving to preserve its lightness and its natural qualities. Each type of sand has its own story, its own texture and color. My creative process, rather than being a drawing, is a dialogue with the sand in which I help to reveal its unique character. I strive to convey the incredible diversity, uniqueness, beauty, simplicity and complexity, plasticity and expression, those qualities that the sand reveals. The result is not just pictures, but rather entire visual spaces, through which I invite the audience to plunge into a world of natural energies, to find a sense of balance and inspiration. I act as a guide between the material and the viewer, striving to convey the harmony that I feel when working with this magical material. Thanks to my uniquely devised technique of fixing sand, these works become not just visual objects, but also tactile experiences. They can be felt by touch. Another particular charm of my works is that they change under different lighting, revealing new facets and reliefs of themselves as if coming to life. I hope that they will open new horizons of perception to the viewer and serve to deepen their innate understanding of the world that surrounds us.