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Exploring Black
Introducing a New Series: "Black Isn't Always Black" By Valentina Bogomazova
During a period that has been marked by turmoil and grief for individuals across the world, we at the Janus Gallery would like to take a moment to highlight the work of one of the Janus Fellows, Ukrainian artist Valentina Bogomazova.
Bogomazova is a novice artist that has gained rapid success at the Janus Gallery, becoming a fan-favorite at our CONTEXT Art Miami booth in December 2021, and entering the collection of a seasoned art collector after the sale of her piece, Strings of the Soul. Guided by her expressive style and unique approach to artistic production, Bogomazova stands out as she braves new paths of production to express herself through painting. She is the creator of an innovative drawing technique known as “Gofrozim”, "gofro”, or “corrugated” style. The name "Gofrizm" comes from a Russian word "Gofra" (goffer), meaning "visual effect". Bogomazova crafts an image of pressed folds and vertical lining that mimics the process of painting on corrugated surfaces through a laborious and time-consuming layering process. Bogomazova encourages viewers of her works to contemplate the amount of time devoted to creating each of her paintings, and to question the emotions embedded within their layers. In her newest series, “Black is Not Always Black”, Bogomazova’s pondering of time and emotional journey are particularly poignant as she continues to process the ongoing war in Ukraine with a personal stake in its outcome.
“Black is Not Always Black” is an ongoing series created over the course of the past month by Bogomazova and currently contains two pieces,
Rh and the series namesake,
Black is Not Always Black. Painted only in varying shades of red using her Gofrizm method,
Rh
appears to bleed with emotion quite literally as hues of crimson and carmine burst from the staggering 50 x 70 in. canvas.
Regarding the message of
Rh, Bogomazova says, “the darker red symbol in the middle of the painting reminds me of a gun and symbolizes separation between two nations, separation before and after the war, even though both nations have the same blood that has been mixed for many generations. My art is calling to stop the bloodshed, stop aggression, stop the pain. May red always be associated with life and love”.
The painting Black is Not Always Black features layers of black paint with small bursts of brighter color peeking through the darkness, this painting exploring a method of Gofrizm that appears to age the painting, almost as if the paint has dried to the point of cracking. This especially emotive work is rich with color symbolism as Bogomazova explores the multifaceted uses of black pigment.
“Black is Not Always Black is based on a combination of emotions of sadness and indignation, anxiety and confusion, faith and hope. I was inspired by people living in different countries who express compassion without fear and wish to help Ukraine be liberated from their occupiers.
The thin lines on the canvas depict the feelings and compassion shown. The lines intertwine and connect. This gives the painting a new context. The black paint does not always appear black, and this is the basis of the title– black can be a symbol of darkness and evil, but its depth and force can be a symbol of strength.
In this painting, black is grief. It is sadness, but it is more than mourning. It is also strength and unity, across people and nations”
It is through this use of intertwined motifs expressed through black pigment that Bogomazova conveys the emotional turmoil she has continued to endure as she watches the war in Ukraine unfold from afar, marking her experience as one rife with darkness but not devoid of hope. We will continue to write on the artworks Bogomazova creates and bring awareness to an artist whose paintings represent the grief and trauma of a nation, and whose contemplation of pain evokes a strong reminder that art is always political, and its message should always be heard.
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