Roza Santini

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Roza Santini: Hello! Thank you, I'm thrilled to be here! I was born in Istanbul, Turkey, where I still reside, to a family with Greek and Russian roots. I grew up in Istanbul and have spent significant time in Eastern Europe over the years.

Carpazine: Have you studied or exhibited anywhere that you would like to highlight?

Roza Santini: I'm a self-taught artist, although I've received acceptances from art universities worldwide, including Parsons New York. I'm currently preparing for my first upcoming exhibition in London!

Carpazine: Can you explain your process of transforming dreams and feelings into visuals? Do you lucid dream?

Roza Santini: Sure, surrealist art for me, is shaped by dreams. It’s believed that dreams which remain memorable after waking up hold significance for the dreamer. I recall fragments of my dreams such as 'wires,' 'bones,' and 'men with two heads,' and interpret them by drawing on real-life references, sometimes combining them to create something unique. Abstract art, on the other hand, relies entirely on my emotions—sometimes to express rage, other times simply to capture the beauty of a color that I find myself immersed in during painting. As for lucid dreaming, it hasn't influenced my work as much, although there have been moments when I've been aware, 'yes... this must be a dream,' which can be quite a creepy experience…

Carpazine: What aspect of melancholy is most present in your art?

Roza Santini: I would describe my work as expressing existential melancholy combined with hints of rage, sadness, and confusion. Although I occasionally use lighter colors, my style is consistently inspired by darker thoughts.

Carpazine: Of acrylic, pastels, and charcoal which do you prefer? Does each represent or manifest something specific?

Roza Santini: Hard to choose a favorite! When working on canvas, I prefer using acrylics and pastels. They are easier to work with, and the colors show themselves better on linen. If I'm working with acrylics and pastels on paper, I use mixed media paper.

Carpazine: Dark psychology as an influence; is this more so as the manipulator or the audience?

Roza Santini: Ah, tricky question. Dark psychology delves into our darkest desires and explores why we are shaped by certain things. It's human nature to have both destructive and nurturing thoughts within us. As artists, aren't we all manipulating people's emotions in some way or another? That's exactly why I find joy in abstract art. People look at it and interpret based on their emotions. Yet, not everyone experiences the same feelings or thoughts when they see the same artwork.