Contest 12– Winner Interview – Sinisha Kashawelski

Interviewed by - Pragati Surana https://www.instagram.com/pragatisurana.ch/

Please tell us about your journey as an artist.

My artistic journey began with formal studies at the College of Applied Arts and later at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Skopje, North Macedonia. From the very beginning, I was fascinated by the ability of art to communicate ideas beyond words. Over the years, I have developed a distinctive visual language that combines realism, symbolism, and surrealistic elements inspired by Macedonian cultural heritage and universal human experiences.

My work explores themes of identity, memory, spirituality, and the relationship between tradition and contemporary society. Through carefully constructed compositions and symbolic narratives, I seek to create paintings that function as visual rebuses, inviting viewers to discover multiple layers of meaning.

Throughout my career, I have participated in numerous international exhibitions, salons, museums, and competitions. Recognition from institutions such as the Salon des Artistes Français in Paris, MEAM – Museu Europeu d’Art Modern in Barcelona, ARC Salon, ModPortrait, FiKVA, and other international organizations has encouraged me to continue exploring new artistic challenges. Most recently, I was honoured to receive the OSTEN Artist of the Year 2025 award, one of the highest recognitions in my home country.

My artistic journey is one of continuous research, experimentation, and dedication to creating works that encourage reflection and dialogue. I believe that art should not merely provide answers but inspire questions, inviting viewers to look beyond the visible world and discover deeper layers of meaning.

What is your medium and why did you choose it?

My primary medium is oil on canvas. I chose oil painting because it offers unmatched depth, richness, and flexibility. The slow drying process allows me to build multiple layers, refine details, and create subtle transitions of light and colour.

Oil paint enables me to combine classical techniques with contemporary concepts. Through glazing and layering, I can achieve both realism and symbolic complexity, which are essential elements of my artistic expression. It is a medium that perfectly supports my interest in creating works that are visually engaging while carrying multiple layers of meaning.

My technical approach is rooted in the traditions of the Old Masters and academic realism, while my subjects often address contemporary themes through symbolism and metaphor. This combination allows me to bridge the past and the present, creating works that are both timeless and relevant.

What was the inspiration behind this work?

“Simulatrix” was inspired by the paradoxes of contemporary society, where reality is increasingly shaped by symbols, brands, digital economies, and constructed identities. The painting presents a young woman carrying a flag that combines the visual language of luxury consumer culture and cryptocurrency, transforming her into a symbolic messenger of a new era.

The work explores how modern values are often built upon images, perceptions, and virtual systems rather than tangible realities. The goldfish enclosed in a transparent plastic bag symbolizes fragility and confinement, while the swallow represents freedom, hope, and the enduring human desire to escape imposed limitations. The aviator goggles suggest a journey into uncertain territories, both physical and psychological.

Like much of my work, “Simulatrix” functions as a visual rebus. Rather than providing a single narrative, it invites viewers to decode the relationships between its symbols and reflect on questions of identity, freedom, consumerism, technology, and the realities we choose to believe in. The painting asks whether we are shaping the world around us—or merely living within carefully constructed simulations.

Who is your favorite artist? Why?

If I had to choose one artist, it would be René Magritte. What fascinates me most about his work is his ability to transform ordinary objects and familiar scenes into visual puzzles that challenge perception and provoke thought. Rather than offering direct answers, Magritte invites viewers to question reality, meaning, and the relationship between image and idea.

I strongly relate to this approach. Conceptually, my painting is close to the symbolism and visual rebuses of René Magritte, Gustave Moreau, and Odilon Redon, while technically I draw inspiration from the tradition of the Old Masters such as Rembrandt, Velázquez, and Titian, as well as from the academic realism of the nineteenth century.

Like Magritte, I believe that a painting should stimulate curiosity and reflection rather than simply illustrate a subject. Through symbolism, narrative elements, and layered meanings, I aim to create works that encourage viewers to engage actively with the image and discover their own interpretations.

Magritte’s ability to unite intellectual depth with visual simplicity continues to inspire my artistic practice and remains one of the qualities I admire most in art.