Interview with Gaudir Season 3 Winner Macaela Wenger.

Michaela, you live in Italy, in Perugia ... were you born there or moved there due to circumstances ?! Can you tell us in a few words about your childhood: who are your parents, teachers, where did you study, who are you by profession?

I was born in Romania in Galati and moved to Italy after graduating from high school as my parents lived and worked here. The first 6 years I lived in Rome, in the Italian capital.

At that time, I still had no interest in creativity, I was limited only by my love for sculpture and paintings in museums and on the streets of the capital.

My school had nothing to do with art. I graduated from high school with a degree in computer science - mathematics and telecommunications.

Which of the great sculptors inspires you to create such refined and exquisite works ?! From our point of view, one can feel in them both the influence of the classical school of the Italian Renaissance (Donatello, Verrocchio, Michelangelo), on the one hand, as well as the "Mannerists" of the late Renaissance, in particular Benvenuto Cellini (elongated figures, exotic costumes, affective gestures), on the other ...

 I love classical sculpture, I believe that all existing sculptors learn from the classics and use this knowledge in their works, constantly referring to them. This is like a fixed point of the example.

Obviously, to create something in the classical style, you need to have a good knowledge of anatomy and a good sculptural technique.

In the technical part, I still have to go further, because I started sculpting in 2017 as a self-taught, and only by the end of 2018, the beginning of 2019, I started sculpting human figures.

I don't have an art school behind me. As a child, I studied drawing, at the age of 8, nothing more.

As I said, in 2017 I started to get closer to the world of art and in a short time, thanks to the passion that arose, I significantly improved the technique.

After a few years, I decided to take a sculpting course (online) and chose Simon Lee, a conceptual sculptor. The course lasted for several weeks and I tried to learn as much as possible.

I finally learned how to make the first sculptures with human figures, but I felt the need for deeper knowledge, so I decided to take this course.

When it comes to my sculptures, I usually try to tell visual stories and put more emphasis on storytelling and composition rather than technique.

If we take contemporary sculptors and artists ... which of them do you consider the closest in style and ways of artistic embodiment of creative tasks ?! Is there a name for the direction in which you are working?

Modern sculptors, similar to my style, hardly come to anyone's mind, because everyone has their own style and skill. But if I had to name my favorite artists, they are unlikely to have anything to do with what I love to do.

For example, Luis Royo, Crayola, Harry Villarreal (Villarte), Paolo Troilo, Roberto Ferri (who in his paintings refers to the painting technique of Caravaggio). Among the sculptors, I like Virgin Ropars (who, with her sculptures, offers illustrations such as Broma, haute couture concepts and images of dark fantasy photographers), Stefano Bessoni (master in the art of stop motion animation), Mario Chiodo, David Zhou (I like his skill and precision in every detail), Mark Newman, Aris Colocontes and Simon Lee, creator of monsters and concept art for cinema.

My style and genre ranges from fantasy to dark fantasy.

Style FANTASY&HORROR, which has become so popular these days, due to the flourishing of the computer games and cosplay industry ... Does it reflect the ideas that you follow, does it allow you to solve the tasks that you set for yourself, creating figurative objects and compositions? In other words, why and for whom do you create your works ?!

I am passionate about video games and character design, but the design of my sculptures is mine. I am inspired by a fantasy world that allows you to create your own characters.

In my sculptures, I always try to tell visual stories. I don't always succeed, but I still have a long way to go and learn a lot, I always try my best.

I usually do work as part of my artistic growth, rarely creating products for sale. The merchandise I create for sale is a very different genre, mostly funny little creatures.

With the advent of modern intelligent gadgets into our lives, - super-powerful computers, mobile devices, digital information processing programs associated with them - a new specialty, virtual sculptor, or 3D-sculptor.

Do you work in simulation programs such as Z–Brush? For example, to create "sketches" of their future works ?! Apply 3D-a printer to replicate repeating parts or similar designs ??? How do you feel about replacing the applied labor of a sculptor with digital technologies? Is there a danger that the traditional profession of "sculptor" will disappear over time?

I am learning to use Zbrush, I have a 3D printer. I believe that everything is a tool for creativity. We artists must make full use of these tools.

What materials do you use for work ?! What are the advantages and disadvantages of some of them? How do you feel about the technology of working with elastomers (silicones, polyurethane), which are widely used in the manufacture Bjd-doll, for example? Are there materials you will never work with? And if so, why?

The materials I use are all types of resin pastes, including epoxy pastes and cold porcelain. I also use silicone rubbers and resins. I don't think there are materials that I would never use.

Obviously, there are a wide variety of materials on the market, and in order to get the most out of each of them, you need to know them. I believe that each material has its own pros and cons. I enjoy trying new things and I always use whatever I have. After all, each material is needed to create a certain thing.

When you start working on a new project, do you create it in your imagination, draw sketches, sculpt models from plasticine ?! How do you fill yourself from the inside in order to enter the creative flow? Is it books, films, going to the theater or the opera, talking to interesting people?

Before starting work, I pay a lot of attention to the preparatory period. I study a topic, a subject, a palette of colors to convey a certain thing that corresponds to the story I want to tell.

I do both plasticine sketches and paper sketches. I often create mood boards and storyboards. It usually takes me a day to get ready, after which I get the inspiration to tell my story.

Inspiration can come from different sources, from a movie or from a specific character, even from people, conversations, or things that exist in nature. There is no fixed pattern of where it comes from.

What is participation in the International Author's Doll Competition for you? GAUDIR?! Was your work created specifically for the competition or was it already included in the plans and coincided with the theme of our event? 

I wanted to test myself and try to win the Gaudir competition. I don’t deny it.

The work was created specifically for this competition, because I really liked the topic and sunk into my soul.

I like to create fantastic plots and stories to make the theme fit perfectly.

When I found out that I was a winner, I was very happy, because a year ago I had already participated and did not win, and this was a test against me.

Winning an International Competition such as GAUDIR, imposes a certain responsibility on the holder of a high rank. With each new achievement in creativity, the army of fans grows: subscribers in social networks, followers, "imitators" and even envious people (haters)!  

As for the envious, I honestly don't think I have them. I've never had a problem with hate or anything like that. And even if they were, I make sculptures for myself and my audience. I post them on social networks to share with people. It's up to them to decide whether they like my job or not. Surely there will be someone who doesn't appreciate, but that doesn't bother me. They do not in the least affect my desire to learn and develop as an artist, because this is a passion, and it is this passion that touches me and what I want to do: therefore, negative people do not bother me.

How do you perceive praise or criticism from the outside? Does public opinion hinder the development and improvement of their skills as an artist and sculptor, or does it drive you into depression ?! Do you consider yourself obligated to bring your knowledge and talent to people, to promote the art of figurative sculpture? In this regard, if you have plans to create your own “Mihaela Vengher School”? Perhaps such a school already exists or is in a project ?! Tell us about your plans.

Negative criticism can be constructive. I don't mind being criticized. I don't think negative criticism is necessarily envious. Even if it is, I try not to take it personally, because I usually look at things objectively. I know what I can and what I cannot. I know my limitations and shortcomings and do not consider them a problem. To be able to objectively assess oneself is a quality that many people lack. For me, this is part of my journey and learning process.

I know that today I did my best. Tomorrow I will do my best for tomorrow. Depression usually occurs due to insecurity.

Ever since I started thinking of sculpture as a process towards improvement, I stopped being upset about failure.

Failures are good. Just try again. Something good will happen sooner or later.

For example, like me, I participated in Gaudir last year and won nothing. That happens. The result does not define us in any way. We must always create with joy in order to be able to do so and to be more confident in our abilities.

As for plans for the future, I will definitely continue to share my work with the public. My goal is to improve my technique, learn more. Perhaps, why not, someday become a reference point for someone.

When it comes to making money through art, it's not at the top of the list. I think if you become good enough to be ignored, the money will come.

Questions prepared by Irina Panfilenok