Robert and Nataliya Brovdi: "Silver Easel" is the unique contest, each member of the Ukrainian art space will become its winner

10

April

2017

To contribute, to nurture, to support young talents, to actively expand and promote the existing art heritage is the dream that was cherished and now is actively implemented by the founders of the Art and Culture Foundation "Brovdi Art" Robert and Nataliya Brovdi. To this end, they step by step form the full-fledged art space with modern art objects (museum, gallery, art club, art studio, master classes, etc.), a specialized informational web-portal and media, as well as a number of various events in Transcarpathia. One of the spouses’ projects within the art-space has already been recognized in the territory of our country. We are talking about the all-Ukrainian student contest in painting “Silver Easel”, intended to support future professional artists and discover new names in the Ukrainian art. These days, the registration of applicants for participation in the next contest goes on. Therefore, taking the opportunity, we put questions to the founders about the event in order a lot of talented young people to be able to find out the necessary details and try their hand.

Hromadskyi Prostir: Robert, Nataliya, tell us, how the idea of the nationwide student contest was born and why is it special?

Robert: I'll start with the fact that we have been interested and involved in art development issues for years. And now, we reach a certain level that requires structuring of all the ideas, projects and endeavours. “Brovdi Art” was founded in 2017 by me and my wife Nataliya. The main goal for us is the development of modern Ukrainian art in general and the Transcarpathian art in particular, its promoting throughout the country and beyond, support of young talents. And, actually in this context we decided to organize and held the contests for talented boys and girls that will contribute to their creative development.

We started in October 2016 with the student contest “Silver Easel”, which gathered the representatives from 22 higher educational institutions of Ukraine. Within the contest days, 44 young artists who gathered in Uzhhorod had to perform three tasks in the technique of oil painting: cityscape, landscape, and portrait. The result exceeded all expectations: the contest was held successfully and at a high level. It drew attention of the artistic and educational communities of Ukraine, and reviews of the eminent artists just proved the necessity of continuing of such events.

Even then, we announced the next student contest for spring 2017. And, now it is held a preliminary qualifying stage. Applicants from among students of 2-6 years of art disciplines register on the web site of “Silver Easel” their applications with short personal information and portfolio with 4-6 artwork of optional genres and techniques. All submitted works are to be encrypted to avoid any bias suspicion, and then they are presented to the members of Expert Council which includes well-known artists, lecturers, and art critics. Actually, their task is to evaluate by the objective criteria the level of the works’ mastery and to identify those who pass the qualifying stage and will take part in the contest.

By the way, even though today the contest has the status of national one, we see the sustained interest in it abroad. It is possible that the contest will get the open status and will provide the participation of the Ukrainian youth, who is studying abroad, as well as foreign students of art profile. This is the question we are also working on now...

Hromadskyi Prostir: Nataliya, how many applications for participation in the contest have been already received? Is there any interest among the creative youth?

Nataliya: Just for the first ten days of the selection we received about 60 applications from students. And while there was the first stage of selection and the Expert Council was analysing the submitted works, the Organizing Committee received almost fifty more applications.

The contest itself will be held in Uzhhorod from 25 to 29 April. We knowingly chose the very time: spring, everything is becoming green, and Uzhhorod also has its local feature - flowering of a huge number of cherry blossoms and magnolias in the streets. In addition, Uzhhorod together with Transcarpathia is one of the centres of Ukrainian art, its traditions have a long history. Now, it has been 90 years since the foundation of the Transcarpathian school of painting, which in 1927 was established by the world-famous artists, natives of the Carpathian region – Adalbert Erdeli and Yosyp Bokshai. And so, it happened: spring, cherry blossoms, inimitable ancient town in the heart of Europe, rich art traditions, and remarkable historical dates became a good reason for meeting and creative competitions of students from all over Ukraine.

Robert: I should notice that this year we made some changes in the contest. In particular, the students will perform contest works within three tasks, but to the last year's nominations “Cityscape” and “Portrait” it was added one more - “Improvisation”. In our opinion and according to numerous artists and art experts, this nomination will allow young artists to best reveal themselves on canvases in arbitrary manner, favourite genre and technique. And, within this stage, perhaps, it will be demonstrated talent and creative personality of boys and girls who will soon become self-sufficient artists and will present modern Ukrainian painting to the world.

Hromadskyi Prostir: Why are such contests important?

Robert: It is obvious that under current extremely difficult situation in the country, the development of art is not a priority. But, we should always think about future. Moreover, culture and art are powerful consolidating and developing factors for society. Today, we have a whole generation of young people who are getting professional art education. This is the future creative elite of the country. They need an opportunity to show themselves, to share their ideas and creativity, to communicate, and even to compete with each other. This is the reason why such contests are necessary. Of course, it should be understood that not all participants will become laureates, but to find a new platform for communication, to share the opinions and experience, to hear the verdict of the impartial jury – isn’t it important?! That is why, the Organizing Committee invites the most famous and influential artists of Ukraine to be the jury members and official partners. On the other hand, such events, where the eminent artists, academicians, critics, lecturers, gallery owners, art dealers, representatives of the profile media meet and communicate, is also extremely important! It is the very atmosphere where new projects and new names are found and the contemporary art market is formed. So, I would say that within such a contest, by and large, all the participants will be the winners of it.

Nataliya: A lot of students made friends after the first “Silver Easel”. They communicate and stay in touch. And, as soon as we announced about the second contest, a lot of them applied again. It is obvious that it is more than just a contest for them. It's vivid memories, pleasant emotions, positive experience. It’s the event in which one wants to take part once more, to express yourself, to reveal your talent, to see the level and ability of your peers. It is very important that future artists have the opportunity to talk with famous artists, to see, for example, globally recognized Anatolii Kryvolap, who will, while evaluating a student's work, suggest something, give advice, comment on...It really motivates and inspires young people! Having certain capabilities, vision, experience, and numerous associates, we’d like to support and develop such projects as “Silver Easel”. Moreover, we have two sons, whom we also try to bring up in the manner of wonderful and positive perception of the world.

Hromadskyi Prostir: Our conversation shows that the question of art support and development is really important for your family. Why did you start it?

Robert:  I often have to answer this question and I always do it with warm feelings and memories. First, Nataliya and I grew up in Transcarpathia – picturesque land, where painting and decorative arts are highly appreciated, and where is strong European cultural influence. I was born in the family of the local intelligentsia, and various artists were always among the family friends. At home instead of carpets, as it was customary in those days, there were paintings on the walls. Therefore, I can say that in my childhood I was surrounded by paintings with the unique Carpathian landscapes and still lifes. That is, the basis of interest in art was the influence of parents and surroundings, which firstly transformed into hobby and then - into deep passion for the works of the Transcarpathian school of painting and regular creation of the family collection. And, at some stage I understood that every collected, preserved, restored, systematized art heritage should serve for higher purposes. It's a part of our famous cultural heritage that glorifies the Transcarpathia and Ukraine. This heritage should be not just demonstrated, popularized, studied, as it is done in Europe, but we also should support those who will create on its basis future and contemporary art.

Nataliya: I remember the days when Robert started to collect paintings. At first, it was just paintings or various authors – perhaps we were not intimately familiar with their works, but we always chose the picture after our own heart and soul. Over time, there were more works and more authors. It appeared clear preferences and criteria, favourite artists and subjects... Thus, I understood that his hobby was gradually getting our common passion and developed into more important activity for our life. Years passed and we had our own little dream -  to open a museum and gallery, and also to start a series of art projects and contests.

Hromadskyi Prostir: How many participants are expected for the contest. Is there a limit in the number of students from one educational institution? What about those students who want to participate in the contest, but do not pass the criteria of art specialty or level of accreditation of their educational institution?

Robert: We suggest about fifty contestants to participate in the competition. However, there is no limit – everything will depend on the qualitative composition and creative potential of applicants. Certain limitations of the representation from a single institution were within the first contest “Silver Easel”. Now there is nothing. However, today we can see the broad geography of educational institutions, students of which want to come to the contest - Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Uzhhorod, Poltava, Odesa, Cherkasy, Lutsk, Dnipro and others.

Nataliya: Conditions of the contest do determine the criteria as to participants’ training specialty (“fine arts” and “design”) as well as level of accreditation of the institutions not lower than III-IV. But, we should mention that “Silver Easel” will be held only for the second time and it was founded as a contest for future professional painters. Now we also get the applications from the students of colleges, graduates, or young painters-amateurs. We carefully study all of them and think how to promote this initiative. One of the options we consider seriously is to hold the contest twice a year in different formats. One, as it is now, all-Ukrainian student, without limits on the level of accreditation. The other one - open, and possibly international, youth student contest.

Robert: (complements – ed.) It will greatly expand the range of the participants of different skill levels, different creative directions and opportunities, reveal the unexpected things and hidden talents to us. It is clear that there will be more cares for the organizers and jury. But, it's interesting, though!

Hromadskyi Prostir: As far as we know, “Silver Easel” – the only student contest in Ukraine with cash prizes for the winners. Along with the opportunity to reveal yourself at the national level it is also a good incentive for creative youth...

Robert: We do not consider cash prizes as the key incentive for the contestants. Sure, they are available, but this is only one of the attributes, which shows the serious attitude to the young artists. For example, work of fine art of all the contestants will be published in the art catalogue. Isn't it important for young artists at the start of their creative path?! And the attention of the central and specialized mass media? As well as the opportunity to show themselves to the leading art critics, gallery owners, and art dealers?! In fact, our goal is that participation in the contest will become a coveted item in the portfolio or CV of the future artist, and will be beneficial for all the talented boys and girls who will come to Uzhhorod. Besides, we have prepared many interesting events and surprises that will enrich the contest programme. I’m sure everything will be very nice, dynamic and spring-like cheerful!

Nataliya: We should not forget that the partners of “Silver Easel” are the leading institutions and figures of the modern art market of Ukraine. They are the auction house “Golden Section”, “Voloshyn Gallery” of Yuliia and Maksym of Voloshyn, a leading expert and consultant on contemporary art and art dealer Igor Abramovych, publishing house ArtHuss, Sky Art Foundation, and others. And the very important is that the partners themselves will determine the best works in their opinion and award their authors special prizes and awards. Which will be the awards it is still a surprise. But, I'm sure it is worth fighting for!

Hromadskyi Prostir: So, what do you wish the future participants and what will be your catchwords to students to register their application for the participation in the “Silver Easel” as extensively as possible?

Nataliya: I sincerely wish all the students who will participate in “Silver Easel”, first of all, huge inspiration, confidence in their own abilities, freedom, to reveal themselves and their talent!

Robert: The most important thing we want is that the high-quality format and high level of contest organization, presence of eminent artists, art critics, and leading figures of the Ukrainian art market – everything conveys to the participants of “Silver Easel” the key message – believe in yourself, create, develop, and you will succeed! This is your chance to be noted and begin your professional career! Register for the contest, don't be afraid of competition, and if not today, then maybe next time you will be able to prove yourself. “Brovdi Art” foundation is always open for talented people!

10.04.2017
By Hromadskyi Prostir