CLOSE FRIENDS WITH: TAJA SPASSKOVA

In this interview, we delve into the world of Taja Spasskova, who share her inspirations and unique perspectives.

Introduce Yourself to the Casawi Community: What drives you? What's your artistic vision, and what sets you apart from the crowd?

My artistic practice focuses primarily on abstract drawing and photography. Through abstraction, I explore what lies beyond the immediately tangible aspects of our material world — the intangible dimensions of existence, including feelings, emotions, and energy. I’m fascinated by the parallels between these invisible forces and ideas from quantum physics. My work exists somewhere between philosophical inquiry, spirituality, and self-reflection, as I try to understand and give visual form to things that are difficult to express through words.

Photography is my way of engaging with the social aspects of life and drawing attention to subjects that I believe deserve to be seen and discussed. I’m particularly inspired by powerful personal stories and individuals whose experiences resonate deeply with me. Through photography, I explore questions of identity, belonging, and the relationship between the individual and society. When a story touches something within me, I feel compelled to explore it through my work and share it with others. Examples of this approach include my photographic projects Isolation and STEM, portfolio and i-D.

City Inspirations: How has your city influenced your artistic path? Share how its streets, culture, and energy have molded your work.

Living in Prague has definitely influenced my artistic path. I appreciate its central location and the possibility of easily travelling to other European cities, while also being part of a vibrant art scene with many talented artists and creative communities. At the same time, Prague offers a more intimate and comfortable environment than a major metropolis. I find a certain balance here between the energy of a big city and a slower, more analogue way of life, without the constant pressure and rush. This balance gives me the space to develop my practice, connect with other artists, and stay focused on my work.

Creative Process: What fuels your creativity? Whether it's a ritual, a muse, or a moment of clarity, we're keen to learn.

I don’t have any particular rituals or specific conditions that fuel my creativity. For me, creativity is a rather natural state of being, and inspiration tends to come on its own, without the need to actively seek it out. I see it more as a process of internal accumulation — a gradual gathering of energy, thoughts, and ideas that eventually seek an outlet through creative work. Moments of clarity and inner insight can become important impulses in this process, giving direction to what has been building up internally and allowing it to take shape through my work.

City Lifestyle and Art: How the places you lived influenced your career and work?

Living in different cultural environments has strongly shaped my artistic identity. I grew up in post-Soviet Belarus, and later moved to Prague to study and develop as an artist. The combination of these two experiences has deeply influenced my visual language. While Prague introduced me to the openness and cultural diversity of Europe, my post-Soviet background remains present in my work through my attraction to brutalist architecture, music, and the raw, atmosphere of that period. I see my artistic practice as a meeting point between these two worlds, where different cultural influences merge into a personal visual language.

Latest or Upcoming Projects: Give us a glimpse into your current endeavors and what lies ahead on your creative journey.

At the moment, I’m focusing on preparing for my upcoming solo exhibition with European Arts gallery, which will take place early next year. I’m continuing to explore the limits of minimal materials, particularly graphite and paper, and to investigate how far I can push these materials while working within such a limited set of means. For this exhibition, I will also continue experimenting with unconventional drawing installations, exploring how drawing can move beyond the flat surface and become part of a three-dimensional form and an installation, creating new relationships between drawing, space, and the viewer.

Taja Spasskova