Vanity Fair UK - 11.2019

“I like to see people, especially women,

and notice the connections between

them, the di

erent personalities.

Certain words and actions in day-

to-day life—they stay on my mind.

I love noticing something di

erent,

something special, even in the most

mundane, everyday situations.”

Though it can be sparked by the

mundane, her work often evolves into

the realm of the surreal. “I love the idea

that in my art I can make any fantasy

come to life. I put a great deal of energy

into each concept,” she says. And it is

in transforming these concepts into

her characteristically striking sets that

the artist thrives. “I can start on the

set at seven o’clock and be there until

midnight easily,” she says. “It’s the best

place I can be: within my art. I love it.”

Getting the set-up exactly right is

essential to minimise retouching. “I

treat each photograph as a sculpture,

something I’m creating there and

then,” she says, “and with sculpture,

there’s no retouching.” This lends

the images a striking immediacy,

be­tting the artist’s purpose. “In the

photographs, I’m trying to capture

something loud and strong. I like

seeing the clash between opposing

I Do Whatever You Humans Do will be

on show on October 3 at the Socialista

Members’ Club, Mayfair.

For more information, visit

aidaemelyanova.com or email

[email protected]

@aidaemelyanovaocial

VANITY FAIR PARTNERSHIP

“I think of my work

as an intermission,

a break from

stereotypical

BEAUTY”

subject matter: strong/weak,

acceptable/forbidden, male/female,

black/white and I love combining

them, experimenting and expanding

limitations,” she says. “You can’t just

pass by without noticing the contrasts.”

Viewers of her upcoming exhibition

during London’s iconic Frieze week

will undoubtedly attest to this.

11-19-Aida-Emeliyanova-Promo.indd 37 16/09/2019 14:51