Textile artist Anastasiia Podervianska works from her studio in Kyiv in Ukraine. Her layered work uses various stitching techniques and fragments of found fabrics and she has previously exhibited at The International Textile Biennale.

What is your background in textiles?

I graduated from The State School of Arts and National Academy of Art and Architecture in Kyiv and got the Diploma in Mural Painting. I’ve been working with textiles for five years. I think I was interested in textiles when I worked with my father on his performances in the theatre as a costume designer a few years ago. I also create embroidered coats. I’m interested in fashion, style, clothing design and my next series of my work might be in this vein.

How do you describe your art? 

I seek to undermine the stereotype of textiles as a decorative and applied medium for women’s handiwork by using it as a medium for contemporary art. I create sophisticated and multilayered visuals by combining various techniques. My textile panels are stitched together from patches of embroidered towels and hand-stitched lacework handkerchiefs. Works contain elements of collages, brocade insets, and more. 

I made several series of textiles works. The first series of works named “Country Horror”.  It was based on the book by George Bulashev “The Ukrainian people and their legends, views and belief.” These are myths, retelling of people, biblical motives. When I read the text, I saw how it might look in textiles. So this series was born. I wanted to show our national character using the modern language of art.

Briefly how do you create a piece?

I always know what I want to create and what the final result of the work will look like. Sometimes I sketch and I need a pattern before embroidering. I have a large collection of textiles, clothes, carpets and rugs and I start by I choosing the fabrics and fragments of clothes. Then I add drawings and finally I embroider.

How long does a piece take to make? 

It really depends on its size and complexity. Sometimes I have to dye the textile, iron it and more. If you work all day, then something two meters in size can be finished in a week.

Is there anything you would like to add? 

I think work with textiles is very multifaceted and always unpredictable. Textiles constantly opens up new opportunities for creativity. I try to create new series that aren’t similar to the previous ones. Participating in International Textile Biennale, Triennial provides an opportunity to meet artists from around the world and get acquainted with their creation. I can also present my work there and know something new in this field of activity. 

https://jyvopis.blogspot.com – Anastasiia’s blog 

Anastasiia Podervianska

Podervianska