An interview taken from our June Issue. In this special issue, we wanted to give light to artists, especially illustrators and painters, to know how to quarantine time affected their lives and their process. We wanted to showcase a different story, different arts to give a voice and platform for these creators.
KALTBLUT: It’s been almost 2 months since self-isolation has been enforced worldwide, how are you feeling?
Daria: In fact, it’s still difficult to put all the feelings together — the situation is really extraordinary. But what I really feel is like I’m in some kind of frustration, a misunderstanding of what is happening. I mean, everything that happens in the world now seems unreal. We usually write about it in books or make science fiction films, but it’s very difficult to get used to the fact that our society actually found itself in such conditions. I think this is a completely normal psychological reaction to stress. My brain is trying to defend itself and says to me, “this won’t happen to you!” [laughs] But, of course, I understand the danger and try to be responsible as much as possible.
KALTBLUT: What have you been doing to pass your time in quarantine?
Daria: Now I don’t have the opportunity to do simple things: I can’t go to the pool, visit my relatives in another city, go out with friends or have a beer at the bar. At first, it was a little annoying, I even forgot that shops, for example, do not work. Just a week before lockdown, my pants were torn, and now I can’t buy new ones, because there is a pandemic and economic crisis in the world — it’s so sad that it’s ridiculous. Besides doing my main job, I use the rest of my free time to slow down and doing what I really like and something I never had time for.
KALTBLUT: How has the situation affected your work?
Daria: Oh, you know, I can say that almost nothing has changed in my job because of the virus. The Russian government has made a special list of enterprises and professions that should continue their work. My main job is a lawyer so, I didn’t stop my activity and I still go to the office, fulfill my duties and move along the streets. But a couple of months ago, I seriously started developing my work as an illustrator, because this is exactly what I would like to do for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, at the moment this is not the best time for this as many publishers and customers simply cannot pay, they need to first save their business.
Contact
Instagram: @electr.ophor.esis
Read the full interview here:
