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Step into the ‘DREAMS’ of Olga Tapiola
Good or bad, dreams are what the Ukrainian artist and psychologist Olga Tapiola paints for her gallery, ThingsThatBringYouJoy, found in the AIR (Artists in Residence) space on the 3rd floor of River City Bangkok.
Entering her studio, I was amazed by two large paintings placed side by side. “Are you a morning person?” Olga asked before introducing her second solo exhibition of 10 abstract paintings of oil on canvas, DREAMS. Olga’s works is best characterized by abstract brushstrokes that she uses to express feelings at the specific moments. An improvisation – liberated emotions that flow onto the canvas like a powerful waterfall.
“I like to come to my gallery and talk to visitors. This is what AIR is for.” Olga told me. Her friendly welcome made chatting effortless. As we stood together infant of two panels, Olga said, “this diptych is called ‘Good Morning Bangkok’ and ‘I Never Met a Sunset I Didn’t Like’. They are visually different but striking together.
‘Good Morning Bangkok’ is a definition of beautiful morning as joyous as feather floating in the air painted with orange, green and yellow. ‘I Never Met Sunset I Didn’t Like’ is its paradox, representing a busy day of someone longing for the sunset to mark the end of the day. Its paints are orange and purple.
As a trained psychologist, Olga is eager to pose questions to people visiting her studio. “I’d want to know which of these two paintings they like most.” Olga explained, “When you are sad, sometimes your response might be a vice versa. Expressionism is about a person feeling without a right or wrong answer. People can interpret their own meaning.”
Tapiola is an admirer of American painter, Mark Rothko, one of the most influential artists in the 20th century well-known for his abstract art and Expressionism paintings. His works are unique with a simple form and use of plain colour with special techniques.
Other paintings which caught my eye were ‘Vienna: Sunset’ and ‘Vienna: Sunrise’ which Tapiola painted from memory of the time she visited an exhibition of her favorite artist, Marc Chagall. Her favourite Chagall is Lovers Over Paris which depicts a couple floating magically is the air.
‘Garden of Your Dreams’ is a wonderful triptych of evergreen stems, sweet bouquets and pink petals. Some are in full bloom but others are waiting for the season.
If you are a dreamer, this exhibition is definitely not to be missed. Visit Olga Tapiola’s studio at AIR on the 3rd floor of River City Bangkok.