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“There is something very organic and wholesome about the process of working with stone. Through the ancient energy it carries, I bond with nature. I have a great respect for this material and use the direct carving method. I love being a clairvoyant and yet never know what the final piece will reveal. The stone will inevitably impose its limitations, but it will provide guidance too.”
Sonya grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, where an abundant cultural life and the unique beauty of the city create an environment for artists to develop and thrive. She started studying art at the age of nine at various studios. In 1989, after graduating from the renowned Muchina Art College, she worked with St. Petersburg’s Theater of the Absurd, taught art, and worked as an interior designer.
By the time of her emigration to the United States in 1995, however, Sonya was attempting to find a new creative spark. A stone carving class provided the stimulation she sought. Her first sculpture in stone, a stylized bird (“Phoenix”) carved from translucent orange alabaster, showed clearly that the creative spirit had returned to her, as the phoenix rises from ashes.
The slow pace of carving seems to correlate with her contemplative essence. Sonya prefers not to rush the process and eschews the use of power tools in her work. It is the ecstasy of creation that matters much more to her than the work that is produced. It is this élan which provides an escape from the worldly necessities of everyday life.
“The struggle with the medium brings me joy and satisfaction. The trance I am in while chiseling is akin to an epiphany.”