Dinara Amre: I Love Enjoying Life
(From the book: Dina Duspulova, “An Artist of Kazakhstan Speaks”, 2022)

Dinara, fluid art is a technique for creating paintings without traditional brushes or strokes. Do you know how to draw with a brush and pencil?
I have great respect for the mastery of realist artists, and I learned drawing skills at one of Almaty’s art studios, where I copied paintings by classical artists. I’m drawn to unusual, imaginative works and I love Frida Kahlo. I think that today it’s essential for artists to be friends with the limitless possibilities of digital technology. I’m incredibly fascinated by fluid art — both the process and the result. Interesting compositions appear when I mix two or three techniques: I create the background with liquid acrylic, use a palette knife for some parts, and occasionally touch up with a brush.

The technique of painting with liquid acrylic is considered intuitive painting. What emotional state are your artworks born from?
Each painting carries not just one, but a whole bouquet of emotions. I come to the studio with a certain mindset and ideas. When I paint, I feel pure joy — I forget about time, hunger, thirst. I’ve found an outlet: by “pouring out” my paintings, I release unresolved emotions and sort through my inner questions. After finishing a piece, I feel good — I came to this intuitively.

The poured mixture of liquid acrylic spreads on its own. Does it really depend on your emotions how it flows across the canvas?
There are very subtle energies at work in this process. First, color — the color scheme is very important. Second, fluid art has many variations: sometimes paint is poured one color over another or mixed first and then poured. Because of the difference in density, the paintings form endless combinations of interesting textures. My professional background also helps — I used to be a pharmacist and worked with emulsions; I even have scientific work in pharmaceutical technology. I know how a denser solution will react with a lighter one when mixed. Based on the density, I can predict how the paint will pour and flow. It’s fascinating when paints settle on the canvas in layers — some rise, some sink. It doesn’t always turn out as I want, but when a fragment that sets the tone for the whole piece appears — that’s amazing! (laughs) Expressing an idea through color — that’s an art in itself.

What makes grown adults, successful in professions far from art, turn to artistic creation?
A mature person often realizes that their main job doesn’t give their life meaning. It’s very important to find yourself — to understand why you came into this world and what truly interests you. I’m happy when people my age try new things — some paint, some dance or sing, others create culinary masterpieces. When you try something you’ve never done before, your brain forms new neural connections. I came to art out of a desire to do what I enjoy — what I dreamed of as a child. And I wish my children the same — to explore themselves, to keep moving, to learn new things. That’s what makes life interesting. I love living, getting pleasure and inspiration from life.
 
Abstract fluid art paintings are often meant for high-tech interiors.
I agree — fluid art fits perfectly in modern interiors. Classical painting belongs in a different space — we go to museums to appreciate beauty and educate ourselves culturally. In glass-and-concrete environments, people want to see something futuristic. Fluid artworks are usually inexpensive — if you get tired of one, you can replace it; mixing styles is interesting too. I love traveling — once I was blown away seeing a designer combine baroque style with fluid art in an interior.

Which are your favorite paintings?
I love my work “Pink Anarchy”, which I painted from a live bouquet. Viewers perceive my roses differently: some see flowers, others see intimate body parts — beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Don’t look for deep meaning in “Polyptych K.” I painted it before the pandemic — the idea of the letter “K” came spontaneously, maybe as a premonition of coronavirus (laughs).
Translator’s note: Coronavirus is spelled with a “k” in Russian.

In your self-portrait you look serene. In real life, are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I’m more of an introvert — I get tired from large crowds and need time to recover. I don’t have the goal of becoming famous or in-demand. If it happens — great, if not — I won’t suffer. My exhibition surprised friends and acquaintances — no one expected me to paint; I always did it privately, for myself.
There’s a lot of sports in my life: golf, skiing, in the past — horseback riding. Besides sports, I enjoy cooking. After tasting any dish, I can tell how it was prepared and which spices were used. Recently, I realized that my creativity combines two equally fascinating and interconnected pleasures: fluid art and cooking. Choosing paint reminds me of smells and tastes. Before fluid art, I hadn’t noticed any synesthesia in myself, but now I sometimes taste scents. I even have dreams where scents, colors, flavors combine and numbers merge in running streams! (laughs)
To please not just the eyes but also the sense of smell, I use essential oils in my paintings — for instance, lavender oil for lavender shades. When I work in the studio, there’s an incredible aroma — it helps to set the mood. Everything happens on a very subtle, intuitive level. The process keeps deepening and expanding — I try everything, there are no limits, and sometimes it works out beautifully. I want to wish beginning artists not to be afraid — to experiment! Decorating your home with an original fluid art painting — that’s wonderful!
 
Thank you for the interview.
Dina Duspulova, art expert