Beauty and meaning intersect in Smadar Livne’s artworks.
Ten years ago, the
Israeli native moved to
Owings Mills
from upstate
New York.
She sees the
Baltimore area as the “center of the East,”
perfect for her and other artists traveling north, south
and west to show their works.
Besides the fabric, paper and other items in her layered
art, Livne interlaces symbols and subtle messages into
her
acrylics on canvas,
fiber sculptures, wall hangings
and tapestry collage art.
Q: How has your work evolved?
A: In art school, I learned a lot of technique and very
academic skills, but once I graduated, I needed to
develop my own style. And it’s not easy. ... Over the
years, I developed by adding poems, stories from the
Bible, my own thoughts, and text from Jewish and
Kabbalah philosophers to the paintings. ... Each
painting has meaning. It’s not just a scenario. I put a
lot of details and symbols into each. You have to spend
some time looking at my work. I don’t want [viewing my
work] to be just a blink of an eye, ‘OK, I got it.’ I
really want people to look carefully and find meaning.
Q: What influenced your development?
A: Every year or two, my mom tells me, ‘All right you
did this, now you have to do new things.’ She reminds me
to keep evolving — mothers still tell you what to do no
matter how old you are. So I say, ‘OK, today I’ll do a
totally different painting.’ I’ll promise her that, and
she’ll call again from Israel to see. It’s almost like a
prompt or assignment you have to do at the university.
So in my new work, I’m painting the canvas’ edges.
Also, my three wonderful girls give me much happiness,
and all my work is happy and meant to give comfort and
satisfaction. I’m not dealing with suffering and things
that are hard because that’s here, there’s nothing I can
do. I want to create a positive energy. I want to get up
in the morning, be positive and add to the universe some
good things. I don’t need to emphasize the bad. I know
many artists who want to show life’s realities. I want
to show the good in everything.
Q: Why do you use such bold colors?
A: The bold colors are very powerful. When you look at
them, you can’t stay calm. You have to react. You don’t
have to like it, but you will say, ‘Woah, what’s going
on.” They ask you to look again and feel the painting. I
want the painting to talk. I want the energy to grow out
from the painting to me and also to the viewers.
Smadar Livne, an award-winning
Israeli born artist, creates
unique and exciting works at her
studio in Owings Mills,
Maryland. Educated at
Haifa
University in Israel, Smadar has
degrees in fine art, literature,
and architecture. She has
continued her education of
philosophy through Baltimore
Hebrew University.
Portraying scenes from her life
and learning is what gives
Smadar’s work an edge. The work
contains short stories, poems
and philosophical observations.
Her works are vibrant and
exciting, expressing the joy
that Smadar sees in life.
Bold, bright colors in a
multi-level composition with
fabric, paper, and embedded
photographs, create a pentimento
effect that is both a visual and
tactile experience. Smadar’s
work incorporates historic
images in a contemporary style.
