Being an artist Anka Akhalaia has taken part in the Sample Art exhibitions and auctions. In September her works of art can be seen in the Moscow Gallery “Triumph”. A graduate of the British Higher School of Art and Design Anka takes out her inspiration from everything - fashion, travel as well as from diverse other areas. She shared these insights in the interview given to the Vremena Goda Galleries.
Art
Why did I choose art? I wish I could tell a more romantic and cinematic story, however, it just happened. At the age of 13, I started a private art school and happened to fall in love … forever. Thankfully, I was very lucky with the teacher, she supported and guided me a lot. After there was the university, that made me 100% that I had taken the right path. Currently, I have been working intensively, there are many projects coming ahead.
I am a creative person, the Gemini star sign, so it is extremely difficult for me to select a few of my favorite artists. My biggest inspiration is Cy Twombly. It was a museum in Rome when I first saw his works of art. I even remember myself taking a picture of his name, not to forget it. The next one is Henri Matisse, in particular, his "Pink Room". I am lucky, since one of my favorite paintings ever is located in The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, so I can admire it whenever I want. Also, I would probably pick out the artist Julie Mehretu - for her large scale, sensuality and visual delight.
Anka Akhalaia at the British Higher School of Art and Design
Fashion
I assume that style doesn’t just reflect the inner state, but it is also able to convey certain vibrations. Therefore, I would describe my style as simplicity with a cherry on the cake. In fact, with plenty of them! I tend to look pretty calm, but if to look closely, there are always extraordinary details in my looks. Recently, I have been wearing cowboy shoes, I just cannot live without them. I cannot survive without a blue shirt and a beige trench coat either - especially now, in the fall. An essential wardrobe item is fancy sandals. It is so sensual: just after putting them on, I feel like dancing right now! And I start dancing at the earliest opportunity.
Movies
I do get inspired by movies, I watch them often and plenty of. However recently, I’ve started taking it more seriously as I think we’re already getting a lot of visual content from Instagram, so it’s worth watching only high-quality and smart movies. I suggest everyone the Mubi platform, I spent almost all my quarantine time there.
If to mention some particular works, I adore the warm sunshine of Woody Allen's movies. My favorite director is probably Pedro Almodovar - everything is beautiful about his movies. I also love Wim Wenders' documentary “Pina” about the dancer Pine Bausch. My guilty pleasure to mention is the "Friends", I just cannot resist it.
A scene from «Broken Embraces» by Pedro Almodovar
Travelling
Currently, it’s a little bit sad topic, but still. I do love Italy - it's beautiful, delicious, fun, picturesque, as well as romantic. Everything accumulated in one place, what else do we need? However, my favorite city is Madrid. If you play it right and get the true impression from this city, then it is no longer possible to fall in love with another one. In general, I am a very sensitive person: I am keen on details, I look at the sky when I walk, and I remember the smell of the street. Therefore, I adore Rome, especially the chestnuts in the square, I do! Well, who doesn’t love the islands of Greece? Of course, now I’m willing to go everywhere. Few things can energize and inspire as much as the exploring of the culture of other countries, new impressions, gastro and alco-tours.
Pisa, Italy / Madrid, Spain