Interviewed by Alexander Kamenchukov.
Anastasia Gersimovich: “We need to learn how to fill each day with happiness”.
The memorial house of the Vankovich family in Minsk hosts a Christmas exhibition of a talented Minsk doll-maker Anastasia Gerasimovich. Nastya has graduated from the Belarusian Academy of Arts majoring in arts history.Her creations are aways kind, smiling and very funny. All details are thought through – up to a ring on a finger or shoe buttons. Such attention to details rests on the fact that Nastya is a costume designer. She has won the competition for the best costume announced by the National Library and now the master of ceremonies in the Library’s guest hall wears the costume created by Nastya. Tatiana Lazovskaya, the lead singer of the “Beseda” ensemble, also wears a dress created by Nastya. Designer dolls, once a hobby, have become a professional occupation for her. She is especially good with portrait dolls and loves them dearly. All the characters are very different, but theis common traits are warmth and optimistic outlook, inherited from their creator. In the memorial house of the Vankovich family the angels, Bab Yagas and Domovoys have become a natural part of the interior deign – their laughing faces appear almost everywhere. Even the museum Christmas tree decorated with angels look very unusual. And Baba Yagas and Domovoys have made themselves so snug on the furnace, that employees of the memorial house clearly want them to stay even after the exhibition is over. On Christmas Eve Ananstasia Gerasimovich agreed to give an special interview for “Minchanka” readers.
-Anastasia, please, tell us when your interest in dolls started? Is it a family thing?
-Well, it is a somewhat family thing. My father, Zmitier Gerasimovich, is a well-known book graphic designer, so in our family the love of drawing and creative thinking was planted since my birth. I’ve graduated first from the arts lycée and later from the Academy of Arts. I’ve majored in arts history, but have always loved knitting, sewing and generally creating something with my own two hands.
-What are the special features of your doll-making?
-A lot of people in our city and in Moscow make dolls. All tose dolls are very beautiful and unique, but I’ve noticed recently that artists often pay a lot of attention to the costumes, but ot enough to the doll itself. For me it is more important that the doll would look alive, have its own character. People who see my dolls mention that they have very lively faces, and it’s really so. All my dolls are essentially kids to me: they have their stories, biorgaphies, I often talk to them. Technically, my education helps me a lot – I know the human anatomy quite well as an artist , so I know how to make a doll human-like even if it is stylized design.
-Is it true, that any creative work is a mirror reflection of an artist’s inner world?
-Yes, it is said that an artist always makes his own portrait. I can’t really say how much this statement relates to me. I think my world view is clearly seen from my dolls. The world is filld with cold and calculation nowadays. Even if we take art we can see that it is all about techniques, that it seems as if the creation has lost its soul, has become a beautiful but empty picture. That is why I think we need something warming, alive – at least at home if not at the exhibitions. All my dolls are made to to be exhibited, they are made to become a part of their owner’s home, so that people could smile and relaz when they see the dolls. Of course, it is impossible for me to appraise my work adequately, but I can easily say that everybody who has ever bought my dolls still love them. Maybe that is because I myself still play with dolls: I make dresses, fix their hair, make-up, manicure...
-What are your impressions of the Vankovich family memorial house?
-I am extremely satisfied! I’ve already mentioned that my dolls are suited for the interior design, and here it it simply perfect – antique furniture, wooden walls – and everything is full of harmony.
-I’ve noticed that side by side with your angels there are funny Bab Yagas everywhere. You must perceive them as positive characters?
-Of course, I wouldn’t bring anything bad in the house! In my case Baba Yaga is somewhat of a protective talisman. You must be seeing yourself as a kind storyteller who brings joy to people...
-Well, at least the process of creation is clearly full of magic, starting from the idea and baking the doll bases in the oven. In the begining they all look alike – simple hairless pieces. At this stage we can’t even say if a doll is a success. Only later, when you start to add some details the doll receives a character and it is a process filled with joy. The same joy I receive with feedback from my customers. Even from Switzerland where it seems people have everything, my customers called to say that a girl who received her portrait doll was out of herself with gladness.
-Do failures happen often when making a doll? Or do you take any character to the finish?
-Doll-making is a thoughtful and near work, it demands not only a certain dexterity but also a great deal of thinking. I never make dolls on the fly, fisrt I create a detailed sketch. And when I make the sketch I already know how I’m going to do everything. I’ve been a costume designer for some time and this occupation gave me a lot of experience.
-So you don’t meet any surprises when baking the dolls?
-As I use a good German-made plastics – no, there are no surprises. My hoddy has become a professional occupation during the last couple of years and I know not to skimp on the material or the plastics can behave unpredictably and crack during the baking.
-You’ve mentioned a customer from Switzerland, but the level of income there somewhat differs from our country. Are your dolls available for the citizens of Minsk?
-Of course, I don’t what my creations to stay in my house forever. I think, narcissism leads us nowhere, that is why such things as dolls should be parted with easily, though I love all of them very much. I know, when you look at the doll and think that you cannot give it away for anything, it is time to switch to some other occupation at least temporarily. It gives me a great pleasure, when people look at my dolls and smile, and though the words “this is the greatest reward” are somewhat worn and trivial, they reflect my feelings.
-But there must be some dolls that stay with you, aren’t there?
-I only keep the doll I’ve started with – it’s a doll of Peppi Longstoking. It was made from the undergrade plastics and has some damage due to various relocations, but it is my talisman and I treasure it a lot.
-What are your wishes to the readers of “Minchanka” on the Christmas Eve?
-Remember that our happiness is made of a lot of tiny everyday details. So do not wish to be happy, but try and fill your every day with happiness!
