The cycle of life

Rebecca Youssefi’s paintings are mesmerizingly beautiful.  Having just finished an exhibition at One Café on London Road, luckily for us, writes HOT’s Zelly Restorick, another is just beginning at The Electric Palace cinema.

Walking past the window of One Café, the powerful figure and colours of the painting of the Birth Mother [The Empress] with her baby-filled belly drew me in to take a look at the other figures to have emerged from the painter’s imagination.  The Librarian [High Priestess], the Guru [Hermit], the Bird Man [The Hierophant], Hel [Death]… the paintings are ‘archetypal figurative symbols of human experience’, each one incredibly strong, hypnotic and intriguing.  I spoke to Rebecca at her shared studio space in St Leonards on Sea.

‘The images are based on the many stories and archetypes of the Tarot Deck’, Rebecca explained. ‘The Major Arcana is a series of 22 cards, which tell you a story relating to your life from birth through all the different experiences to the end.  I capture the essence of each card, based on what the card represents.

‘The idea is that everyone relates to each of the figures in some way… everyone experiences solitude, inspiration, knowledge, birth, death, creation, all the cycles of life, whoever they are, regardless of nationality or the time they live in.’

I asked Rebecca how the paintings develop.  Does she have a vision of the completed painting or does each one evolve on the canvas?

‘I begin by writing about what the painting will be about and what it represents and then I develop an image in biro, like a child’s drawing… At this stage, I don’t know what colours I’ll use or what the painting will look like at the end.  It’s exciting. As I’m painting, I’m not doing much thinking… I’m just doing the work.  It’s like I’m the viewer.  I work intuitively.

‘Painting makes me very happy. I’ve loved art and painting from a young age… it’s always been what I’ve wanted to do.  I also do creative writing and am working on some top secret children’s stories.’

Each of the paintings is accompanied by a short piece of writing, which adds to the overall experience.

‘I always have some writing with each painting…  I don’t know how the paintings would be without the words with them.  I love writing and have written for a long time.  I do an automatic writing practice every day, just letting the words flow for a few pages.  It’s very helpful.’

Rebecca studied art at the old Hastings College [HCAT], having moved to Hastings from London at 15 – and then took her degree at the University of Westminster.  Currently, she lives and has a studio in St Leonards on Sea.  I asked her what she likes about being here?

‘Being by the sea.  I’m quite a solitary person and London is very busy.  I like that it’s less busy here and you can walk down the street and bump into people you know and get to know the shop keepers.  And there’re so many artists here, it’s a good place to be and experience at this stage in my life.

‘But I’d like to go back to London to do a Masters.  My degree was in Mixed Media Fine Art, where we studied photography, performance, film, installation, sound… My specialism is painting and I want to learn more.  I know my painting wouldn’t develop as much as I would like if I just painted on my own.  It will help me to strengthen my practice and push me to see what I can do.’

I asked Rebecca if she had any major artistic influences?

‘My favourite painter is the German painter, Anselm Kiefer. He paints huge landscapes, very textural… I love texture in my own work – and I always put other materials on my paintings.’

For example, the Guru [Hermit] sits beneath a cascade of crystals and The Librarian [High Priestess] is surrounded by small branches.

‘I went out looking specifically for oak tree branches,’ explained Rebecca. ‘The oak tree represents solidity and strength and these qualities relate to The Librarian. She’s all about strength in her knowledge and has access to all the wisdom; she’s the keeper of the books.’

The figures are extraordinarily strong with enormous eyes, hypnotically drawing the viewer into a relationship with them.

‘The faces are all based on my own face.  I know exactly what look I want, what facial expression and it’s just easiest to use myself as a model. The lighting is very important for the photos – I like strong shadows. I seem to paint a lot of bald people with very long necks and bodies.

‘The 6 paintings in the exhibition are part of a series of 22 canvases and are only for viewing at this time.  I don’t want to sell them before the set is completed. I’d love to have an exhibition of the entire series when they’re all finished.’

Any idea how long it will take to complete them?

‘It takes about a month per painting… so it’ll be at least a year, unless I work very quickly.’

As the figures are so powerfully mesmerising, I asked Rebecca if she herself developed a relationship with them as they emerge and develop on the canvas?

‘It’s a very strange experience… It’s as if I’m becoming what they represent.  As I’m painting, I’m getting to know the qualities – and I’m experiencing them at the same time.’

I wondered if there were any figures she felt especially close to?

‘I’ve always been The Hermit [Guru]… that’s my base.  And the Librarian… I feel close to her… from the paintings I’ve done so far.’

Any other personal creative future visions?

‘I’d like to start painting murals in public places.  I’m drawn to public art work and love to see it myself.’

I ended with my signature question: why are you here – on the planet – at this time?

‘I’m here to experience life, like all people I think, and to make the choices for what I want in life.’

From now until 23 December 2012, Rebecca’s paintings can be viewed at The Electric Palace cinema in Hastings Old Town.  You can go in an hour before the film starts – or arrange a viewing by appointment.

Also, Rebecca has three small pieces in One Café’s exhibition about Combe Haven Valley, again embodying certain qualities in people: ‘Stand In Your Power’, ‘Meditate On It’ and ‘The Big Picture’.  The exhibition and blind auction are to raise awareness and money to protect Combe Haven from the planned Bexhill Hastings link road.

Contact Rebecca : ryoussefi@hotmail.co.uk

Rebecca’s online portfolio and blog here.

Facebook page here.

Electric Palace details here.

One Café, London Road, St Leonards on Sea.

Also in: Visual Arts

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