Conclusion - Lena Semenkova Feature

by NDK Creative Artist

Is Digital Photographic and Illustration Manipulation Art?

Yes, it is. Why? Because it has come of age and is no longer about technique, but about the use of technique to master the visual language and say something meaningful.

The moment that occurs, regardless of the proficiency of the artist, you have art occurring. Because now you have communication happening, and not just an empty communication devoid of message, meaning or substance, but a communication that stimulates the recipient intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and culturally. You have full awareness as a viewer and a sense of marvel at the skill of the creative individual who has packaged a concept visually and made possible a realization that informs your own life, integrating seamlessly with it, in an almost undetectable fashion. Anything else is not art, because art is, at its most fundamental, a communication.

The question: “Is this art?” Is answered when you answer the following questions:

• Does it communicate?
• What does it communicate?
• How well does it communicate?
• What is the effect?

There is more to say about these questions and the range of answers given. But these are the fundamental questions to ask to determine whether or not something is art or not.

But people (and entire societies) forget this, and when they lose this fundamental principle and observation communication standards dive, in the end all you will see are the bones of a civilization left, the art that survived a people who decayed.

I titled this Feature Lena Semenkova: Camouflage of Contradictions for Lena is full of these seeming contradictions, doesn’t like groups that use the F-word, but will use it herself when she feels like it, among other equally and sometimes more colorful expressions. Has a spirituality and connection to God that she frankly admits while shunning all religions as she borrows their buildings to commune if she needs to, and she knows she doesn’t need to; and I think that’s the modern sensibility of spirituality today. It’s nobody else’s business, just yours, unless you trust others not to abuse your belief.

Full of contradictory camouflage, perhaps. But antisocial? It depends by which standards you’re going to measure her worth and value, but choose wisely, for becoming a trifle or a gem in this remarkable woman’s life is swiftly determined. Lena’s art illuminates the crises this world faces personally, socially, culturally at this time. Her collection is art that makes a collective statement about our new millennium and who we are within it, and we have some work to do if we are to heed the insights Lena offers us with her work, and thus it is collectible 21st Century art.

Lena Semenkova is a digital artist whose technique, while not up to her own standards yet, is already building a large following at deviantArt, the online community that purports to be the largest in the world and probably is. Among many who post their creations there, she is without a doubt standing up there with the best of them, something the staff at Deviant have already recognized, when they awarded her the coveted DD and featured her work on the homepage of the most trafficked art site in the world (something we didn’t know until we had interviewed her). To shine at such an early period in her career is in no small measure due to the astounding use of visual metaphor, which denotes a way of thinking and conceptualizing that is remarkable. It’s not all about the technique, or the mastery of the technique, Lena’s ability to communicate demonstrates mastery in the visual sphere and this is why we featured her in the Free Articulator.

This self-styled Psychobitchua is an adventurous, fearsome and courageous spirit who battles her own terrors, with an indomitable and indefatigable will, and a frank admission of their existence. Then she’ll tell you she’s shy. And she is, in reality, all these things, and therefore a fine human being, who demonstrates the ability of the artist at a high level. The ability to be.

We’ll keep you up to date with Lena’s career as and when it moves forward (just subscribe to be informed), in the meantime, browse her gallery and collect her prints—this is one of the new millennium’s finest visual communicators.

The Free Articulator and Lena Semenkova are grateful to photographers Sergey Schelkunov and Kotka who graciously gave permission to Lena for their work to be included in our first Free Articulator Feature. Their work is excellent and we are intrigued enough to talk to them about it in later Features. Stay tuned and thank you for your attention.

~

If you know an artist you think may appeal, drop us a line and send us their site. Features are by invitation but we consider all that come to our attention.

Do let us know what you thought of this, our first Feature - leave a comment. Or Articulate Now.

Feature Index

1. Lena Semenkova - Camouflage of Contradictions
2. Digital Art and Photomanipulation
3. Review: The Imitator
4. Review: The Waiting
5. Review: Superstar
6. Interview Part 1
7. Review: The Kingdom
8. Review: Like a Bird
9. Interview Part 2
10. Review: Ghost Rider
11. Review: All the snowflakes must die
12. Interview Part 3
13. Review: Red Skull
14. Review: Prisoner of Conscience
15. Review: War
16. Conclusion

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If you'd rather we did all the hard work, you're in luck. Here's a list of articles that are related to this one:

• Lena Semenkova - Camouflage of Contradictions
• Review: Red Skull - Lena Semenkova Feature
• Review: Prisoner of Conscience - Lena Semenkova Feature
• Digital Art and Photomanipulation - Lena Semenkova Feature
• Interview Part 1 - Lena Semenkova Feature