10 Questions with Otilia Iliescu

Otilia Iliescu is a Romanian artist from Iași, Moldova region. Her artworks revolve around political or social issues, and she usually works together with psychologists, therapists, and people from the law and politics fields to complete her projects. Otilia started as a painter and redirected herself towards performances, sound design, and installations. The 21 years old Romanian exhibited so far in New York, Barcelona, Venice, Rome, and her hometown.

site123.me | @otiliailiescu

INTERVIEW

What is your artistic background, and how did you start experimenting with art?

I always enjoyed going to exhibitions and learning about art. And somehow, I knew that is what I would do later in life. I painted for a long time, but somehow it did not feel right. Even in university, I thought I would do painting. But here, it clicked for me. I discovered more areas of it, and by experimenting, little by little, I moved in different directions. I don't think I have a lot of artistic background. I think I have a lot of "trying my best" background. I finished mathematics and coding as a high school profile. I did exhibitions and art lessons even then, but the first heavy contact I had with the art world was at university.
It is something hard to explain...one day, it just clicked, and from there, it was just a matter of trying as much as possible.

Why are you an artist, and when did you first decide to become one?

I believe, and I don't believe in this. I believe a lot in things that are meant to happen despite all odds. I didn't really plan on becoming an artist. I just knew in my heart it would happen. Sounds cliche, but there is something in everyone that tells them what is meant for them. As per why, it just felt right. I follow the course of life and live as times come. When the time and opportunity came, I took it.

You are very young but have already studied and exhibited internationally. What have these experiences taught you about the contemporary art world so far?

Don't take life too seriously. Everything is a matter of context. The right artwork in the right place at the right time is a very complicated recipe to find out. As well as the fact that artworks without substance are not meant to last. Don't underestimate the viewer. Or yourself for that reason. It's good to find a balance.

Your work often refers to your home country, Romania, its history, and society. How important are your roots for your work and for your development as an artist?

I don't think I do my artworks related to my home country in a conscious way, but inside myself, I feel like I owe many things to Romania. I lived there for 19 years.
It was hard for me to leave home. It felt strange in a way. I think I am still very bounded to it. Italy treated me well, and it gave me opportunities I maybe couldn't explore in Romania. But home is home. There are for sure a lot of stereotypes. And I had to face many difficult situations in Western Europe. But for me, it never changed anything. The occasional social unpleasantries didn't make me resent my country or my nationality. I believe in remembering where you started from. On a deeper level, it directed me to use it more in my projects.

Childhood, 2022 © Otilia Iliescu
“I asked three people to participate in my project. They all had to bring a safe person to talk to about more difficult subjects from their childhood. The interaction was based on an exchange of notes with answers to predefined questions. The questions were thought together with my mother, a therapist who specialized in couples and family therapy. The questions are based on a study she conducted herself on children from difficult backgrounds. My generation (the people asked to participate are between 21 and 25) lived through a period of difficult development country-wise and socially-wise.”

What messages are you trying to convey with these projects?

It's hard to say. Once I put an artwork out in the world, I rediscover it along with everyone else. And I still have a lot to learn about myself and my art. But lately, I find myself talking about the idea of normalizing the human experience. I think we can empathize with one another in more fields than we are aware of. If we were more open, we would see we are not as "unique" as we think.

You work with different techniques, shifting from painting to installation, sound design, and performances. How much do the themes you tackle in your work influence your choice of technique?

I try to find a way of achieving the full potential of a concept, despite the technique. One shouldn't limit oneself. The sky is no longer the limit at this point in art and time.

At the same time, you collaborate with different figures, such as therapists, psychologists, and other experts in your projects. How do you work with them and incorporate their inputs into your work?

I usually come up with a concept, and I run it by people with expertise. If it is a political project, I try to get inside and double-check the information I find. From public statistics and reports to more "backstage information". If it is about psychology, my projects usually are question-based, and I work with specialists to construct them and to get a proper view of the subject I am approaching. It really depends on the project. And sometimes it changes everything; sometimes it is a reassurance. Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Do you find that the shift to digital exhibitions and art fairs has helped promote your work?

The online exhibitions not so much. They promoted the works nicely, but I think it takes away a little bit from the experience. The art fairs, on the other hand, are a great experience both as an artist and as a viewer.

What are you working on right now? Are any exciting projects or exhibitions coming up soon?

Right now, I am enrolled in a second university, and I am trying hard to manage my studies and projects. I am slowly developing the concept for a new installation based on how we experience sound in different contexts. But it will probably take me a bit longer this time.

Finally, any shows, galleries, or publications where our readers can find your work?

I recently took part in an exhibition at Medina Art Gallery at Rome International Art Fair. Last year I participated in Venice International Art Fair, Barcelona Contemporary Art Fair, and the "What is art" exhibition in London at Boomer Gallery. And of course, the projects are available on my website, which is in the description of all my social media.

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