Oksana Badrak is an multi-talented artist who easily floats between the titles; illustrator, designer and fine artist, seamlessly combing superb draftsmanship with computer generated elements to create fantastic worlds that manage to defy the label “fantasy art” or at least give it a new spin. Badrak’s list of commercial clients include: Entertainment Weekly, Playboy and Nickelodean to name a few and she currently has a exhibition up at Black Maria Gallery in Atwater Village.
Recently I was invited to the studio of artist Oksana Badrak in Mount Washington. On seeing the work, I am immediately captivated by a large piece she has just had framed for the show. Badrak’s style and approach are unique, as is her take on her subject matter.
The large piece, a triptych shows one of two ‘worlds’ that Oksana explores for the current “Moon Over Drifters” show, one of which is an ethereal dream place, the other is a more real place. I cannot help but notice, however, the juxtaposition of what takes place in each ‘world.’ It seems as though ‘real’ things take place in the fantasy locale and un-real occurrences find themselves situated in the ‘real’ world.
Confusing? In words, yes. In images it is absolutely clear. But I believe that is why we have art, to say that which cannot be captured in spoken language. And Oksana Badrak knows just how to communicate in the visual.
The triptych shows creatures (little white beings with red faces, based on the Japanese Macaque monkey) drifting in boats on a body of water delicately sprinkled with lotus blossoms. Quite honestly, it’s a place, I’d love to visit, and maybe never leave. Looking at the piece, I just get lost, it is so stunning.
Another piece, from the more ‘real world’ is of two dogs, one facing the viewer, dressed in human clothing. She wears what looks to me like a 1950s shirtdress. Quite a little housewife that Belka!
Aha, she has a name, I learn. The dogs are based on two real dogs that were sent from Russia in the 1950s into outer space. Many dogs were left there because they could not be brought back. Two made the journey home, Belka and Strelka. In Oksana’s telling, Belka bears a striking resemblance to her pomeranian Lola. (Who by the way is precious, not a yapper or a twitterer at all.)
Why Russia? I didn’t ask this one, but I imagine that being born in Russia somehow imprinted this story on Oksana’s psyche. Badrak came to the United States when she was 15 years old. When she tells stories of her childhood, I have that feeling again. I’m back to where I go when I look at the triptych. I just want to get lost.
Oksana grew up in the world of the arts. Her father was a choreographer and her mother was in theatre design. Oksana lived in a home that was filled with the energy and inspiration of many creative people coming in and out all the time.
