Calina Hiriza: A Dialogue Between Self and Matter

*I’d Like to Toss your Salad.* Mixed media.

Website: www.calinahiriza.com / Instagram: @calina.hiriza

Romania native and Millburn, New Jersey based artist, Calina Hiriza, finds inspiration by engaging in a dialogue with herself and her medium. Through her impulse guided gestures, Calina creates beautifully abstract work focusing on texture, chromatic intensity and kinesics.

How did your creative journey begin?

My creative journey began early and somewhat by chance when a family friend and established artist caught a glimpse of my drawings. “She is very talented” he said to my mother, and so the decision to attend art school was made. I was about 11 years old. And just like that, years of training ensued and, I can’t lie, I enjoyed every minute of it.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

My secret—or not so secret—desire is to immortalize “things” that are unseen. Call it a deep dive into the unknown. It’s perhaps less about inspiration and more of a quest for the uncharted. I like to test the limits of what is perceived as and easily judged as art. To answer the question though, what I do to tap into what we call “inspiration” is engage in a dialogue with my medium. I speak to my pieces through impulse guided gestures, we sit together and ponder the next move. Sometimes the piece will reject my maneuvers and ask for something different, sometimes it will ask for more of it. A lot of artists say they tap into their feelings to create. I do not think that is incorrect, what might be incorrect is the terminology, I believe it’s more about tapping into states of being.

How has your work shifted and evolved over time?

As mentioned, I am traditionally trained, so it’s been a long road of learning. From still life to landscape to the human body and portraits, I have been exposed to it all. Over time however, imitating life as we perceive it through our senses became insufficient. It was a gradual progression that brought me to the abstract. Where the figurative could not answer, raw materials began to speak for themselves, asking for a life lived by a different set of rules. We all strive to overcome the mundane, to discover a portal to new beginnings. It’s our continuous struggle with our own mortality.

What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?

Studio time truly is my favorite. My typical studio days are nights, actually. I was born at 3:30 am and that’s my simplistic justification for being a night owl. For the first time, I have my art studio within my dwelling and it’s such a privilege to be able to step into the zone at any given time. Throughout the years I have held proper studio spaces within artist communities as well as laid down painter’s cloth over my living room floor. Whatever the case might have been, I always made sure to have a space in which I could create. Sometimes, that was in my head.

Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?

I always cherished my alone time even though I've never been a recluse. I enjoy social outings and connecting with people. I would say the passage of time has been the biggest influence on my art. Over the years the way in which my brain operates has evolved, I’ve learned to put more emphasis on things that matter versus flitting moments. Travel has been another big part of my evolution. Experiencing different cultures, people and places is so enlightening and eye-opening.

How has social media impacted your art career?

Like it or not, social media is here to stay but I see it as a double-edge sword. It offers unparalleled levels of connectivity which can trick us into feeling connected even when we are not. So, I say let social media do what it does best, offer the initial avenue for connection but then do a fast follow up IRL. Nothing social-based beats in-person interaction, my 2 cents. Used properly, it’s definitely an additional road that can lead to success, it can place you in the right place, at the right time, like a lottery.

What are your future goals and aspirations?

Besides creation, which never stops, I am particularly interested in reaching other artists and art lovers and collaborating on meaningful projects. I love being a part of art shows, the rush of the opening, meeting interesting people and having purposeful conversations. It’s always a great feeling when people are willing to take the dive into your process, your thinking, and that (selfishly) allows you to get a step closer to being understood and your art being appreciated. However, I do understand these “prizes” are earned, not handed out, and I’m willing to work for them. I love working large scale and it’s my dream to be commissioned to create something massive. Bigger is not always better but scale is impressive within itself, it poses a challenge I will always enjoy.

Guest UserAugust 31, 2022