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“My earliest recollections of nature are of the ocean,” the French artist Natalia Kovachevski tells me. “Rising up as a Mediterranean lady, I used to be satisfied I used to be a mermaid and a witch–a wild lady, part-animal, with an affinity for the pure world.”
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Now a photographer and mannequin, Natalia continues to return to nature, exploring lush forests, hidden coves, and secluded waterfalls near her dwelling within the South of France. In lots of her self-portraits, she embodies legendary characters: not solely a witch and mermaid but additionally a kitsune, a divine fox from Japanese legend. In a single portrait, she turns into la vouivre, or a guivre in English, a chimerical creature rumored to roam the French countryside throughout the medieval interval, very like a dragon or serpent.
In Kovachevski’s work, the feminine physique (and by extension, the landscapes she inhabits) turns into sacred area. “I’m a naturist, and I feel that people ought to keep in mind that we’re, in the beginning, pure creatures,” she says. “I’ll always remember what it feels prefer to be in communion with nature, to spend hours creating within the forest or by the water’s edge. We’re part of this ecosystem, and we will’t proceed to destroy it.” We requested her extra about her work.
Mom Tree
The Important Gear of Natalia Kovachevski
Kovachevski tells us:
“For a very long time, I solely labored with a Canon 600D and 18-55mm lens. That’s it. I discovered every thing by myself as an autodidact, in a really intuitive manner. In fact, I later tried one other digicam, the significantly better Canon 5D with a 24-105mm lens. However ultimately, the technical variations don’t matter a lot to me, as my artwork is extra rooted in emotion than technicalities. “I’ve a reasonably artisanal and instinctive method to images. I attempt to get most of my results straight out of the digicam, after which I primarily give attention to coloration grading in post-production. When it comes to my self-portraits, particularly, I’ve a really experimental method. I typically even work with a GoPro underwater. I’ve a tripod and distant management, however I favor to make use of the self-timer. What I take into account actually important to my follow will not be being afraid to fail.”
Human Nature
Phoblographer: How did you get began as a photographer? Which got here first: images or modeling?
Natalia Kovachevski: I began as a mannequin after I was eighteen years outdated, as a quest for id. I used to be looking for a option to discover myself, however I shortly realized that I’d not be capable to settle for myself and my physique by the eyes of others. That’s why I wished to develop my very own imaginative and prescient as an artist and photographer.
Phoblographer: A few of your pictures are impressed by folklore and mythology, comparable to Andromédē, the Greek heroine. Imbolc is a Gaelic conventional pageant; Sappho was a lyric poet. Are there any particular traditions, tales, or legends which have helped form your imaginative and prescient as an artist?
Natalia Kovachevski: There isn’t any particular fable or story, however collectively, all of them function an actual inspiration. Folklore, tales, myths, and legends imply rather a lot to me as a result of they reveal truths about humanity, utilizing archetypes to faucet into our collective unconscious. They’re inexhaustible sources of inspiration to query and illustrate.
Andromède
Phoblographer: Talking of Andromédē, that {photograph} of yours jogs my memory of the well-known Titian portray. Do you draw numerous inspiration from artwork historical past as properly?
Natalia Kovachevski: A number of artists from totally different intervals of artwork historical past encourage me, however I’m particularly drawn to mythological scenes representing ladies. I query the methods through which ladies are depicted all through artwork historical past. I’m additionally enthusiastic about discovering the visions of feminine artists–Angelica Kauffmann, Artemisia Gentileschi, Rosalba Carriera, and Sofonisba Anguissola amongst them.
The Sabbath
Phoblographer: If we return to Sappho, the Greek poet, many see her as a feminist in a time lengthy earlier than feminism. Like her, you discover notions of femininity and energy and recall to mind the comparatively new thought of the “feminine gaze.” In what methods, if any, do you see your work as difficult the standard “male gaze”?
Natalia Kovachevski: Sappho is a big supply of inspiration to me, and I can even cite Renée Vivien (1877-1909), a British poet who wrote in French. Right this moment, she’s typically known as “Sappho 1900.” There are such a lot of ladies artists and writers who’ve been made invisible by the “official” historical past books, though they have been well-known of their time.
Ladies have been portrayed by males for thus lengthy that the best way males depict ladies has develop into accepted because the “impartial” perspective. It’s as if ladies have by no means had possession of their very own pictures. On this manner, I feel ladies artists must proceed to symbolize ladies’s our bodies and reclaim feminine illustration, and we regularly do it in a extra humanistic manner.
Homeless
Phoblographer: Why are self-portraits vital to your follow as an artist?
Natalia Kovachevski: I feel, as a mannequin and photographer, it’s important to stay conscious of being on each side of the digicam. However there’s additionally actual freedom in creating on my own. It’s a sense of whole independence and in addition a second of introspection.
Phoblographer: How have your experiences as a mannequin influenced your method to images?
Natalia Kovachevski: As a photographer, it’s so vital to by no means put a mannequin below strain. I’d urge different photographers to not overlook that the mannequin can change his, her, or their thoughts–at any time limit. You need to create a secure house to your fashions and be aware of their emotions. Consent and belief are non-negotiable.
Sapphic Poem
Phoblographer: Your companion, Alisson Kubany, seems in a few of these self-portraits. Is that proper? How lengthy have you ever been collaborating?
Natalia Kovachevski: Alisson has been my companion for 4 years now, and we’ve been collaborating for the reason that starting of our relationship. She doesn’t help me on each shoot, however she helps me typically. I feel that the inventive dimension was vital in our relationship as a result of actual belief was required. Images has helped us to construct genuine confidence in one another with out concern of judgment.
Goals Come True
Phoblographer: What’s your strongest reminiscence out of your time making these pictures and exploring these landscapes, with Alisson or by yourself?
Natalia Kovachevski: There are numerous robust recollections, so it’s actually onerous to select only one. However the time Alisson and I spent in Croatia discovering its fabulous landscapes is one among our greatest recollections. I bear in mind how enchanting it was to create collectively in all of the totally different locations we visited. I hope we’ll by no means cease touring and creating collectively.
Behind You
Phoblographer: Are you able to inform me about a few of the lovely landscapes in these photos?
Natalia Kovachevski: There are lots of secret water sources close to my dwelling the place I can return each time I would like. I additionally love hidden areas within the forest, and I dwell proper in entrance of the Îles d’Or or “Golden Islands” within the South of France, so nature is well-preserved right here. I’ve some favourite locations within the woods and by the ocean.
I selected to dwell the place I do as a result of I have to be surrounded by the magic of the pure world. On the similar time, I journey consistently, and I’ve discovered many bewitching locations all different the world. I benefit from the sensation of being bare in distant, wild locations. It’s a extremely symbolic and mystical feeling.
Imbolc
All images by Natalia Kovachevski. Used with permission. For extra from Natalia Kovachevski, go to her web site. Observe alongside on Instagram at natalia_kovachevski and on Tumblr at nataliakovachevski.tumblr.com.
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