Artist statement
Natasha Holland-Zachariah
I was born and brought up in Russia, and have lived in the North East of England since 1991. I have received a MA in Fine Art at Sunderland University. Currently I live and work in Gateshead.
My preferences are to portray people and it is important to me to have a narrative behind the painting. I like to communicate to spectators through my paintings for them to ask questions or maybe give them an answer.
God Has a Sense of humour
One of my
favourite artists is Marc Chagal. I like the freedom, fantasy and adventure in
his work and the deep meaning of his message.
In this series I exaggerate people’s facial features, to emphasise their personality but left a classic approach in my technic. I believe that this series of paintings have been inspired by
God. They celebrate love and family values. They are proverbs expressed in pictures,
with humour and fantasy that allows me the freedom I was longing for. I believe
that they are prophetic and deliver a message for the people I portray and also
to those who appreciate them.
The response I received on social media is encouraging, but all glory and credit goes to the one who inspires and gives me all of the ideas, to my saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.
In the Garden
This series started after I had been influenced by my students, who painted flowers in response to the paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe.
The meaning behind those paintings lies in the 'Songs of Solomon', my favorite place in the Bible, where it shows an example of perfect love. The Groom (Christ) admires His Bride, talks about her perfection and fullness of what she has inside; because the riches of her spirit is overwhelming.
Personality demands appearance.
This project has been inspired by the work of a Russian fashion designer, Slava Zaitsev. His fashion creations main goal was to glorify Russian folklore, and he has some contemporary ideas which have shown eastern influence.
My project is dedicated to the friends and people I Know and Love. As I dressed them in the designer clothes, in the paintings, I realised that each personality I have been working on, demands a certain appearance such as: colour, style of dress, patterns and the background of the painting.
I believe that all people are unique creations, and I have always been fascinated in how their charisma and inner world reflects in their looks: their eyes, smile, wrinkles and how it is possible to read their personality through appearances.
