Story#12 - Nino
Nino, Paris (France)
Nino is a young artist from Georgia who has been studying and living in Paris. I met her at Beaux-Art de Paris, a dream for many artists. The art school receives yearly many applications and is one of the most competitive schools to access.
The website makes it clear: "Beaux-Arts de Paris is a place of artistic instruction and experimentation, exhibitions and conservation of historical and contemporary collections, as well as a publishing house."
Beaux-Art de Paris's mission is to educate and train students planning to devote themselves to high-level artistic creation. So, if you want to be an artist, this is definitely an experience that can help you.
She came to Paris to pursue her dedication to painting and find her way as an artist.
"I have been painting since my childhood. Last summer, when I went back home, I discovered paintings made when I was 10... it is on me." But in Georgia, you cannot live as an artist. Or, at least, it is not easy.
She knew she needed to study. She decided to sign up at Architecture, which is, as she says "a sort of in-between area, the closest to art".
Education
“I am very happy to be an architect and be able to expand my knowledge”.
"I am very happy to be an architect and be able to expand my knowledge."
During the years at University, she continued to paint and follow her passion even if it was not easy.
"Slowly, I started getting good feedback on my paintings, little exhibitions, international open calls but the most important was a Swiss collector who bought some of my paintings. We met while I was coordinating a Soviet Architecture Study trip for Swiss architects and could share my artworks during a family lunch in Tbilisi. These kinds of exchanges are signs that help you plan your way."
It was like breathing for her. She could plan a move to Paris after being accepted at The Paris Institute of Political Studies (SciencePo).
"I knew I had to study and I had to work: a master degree in a prestigious University can probably expand my possibilities and create a backup for my future".
Paris’ influence
“I love this. I can do this."
The cultural offers of Paris made the difference. "I was looking at exhibitions, contemporary art scene and thinking: I love this. I can do this!”.
She applied to Beaux-Art de Paris and, because of her previous work in arts, she was accepted directly in the third year (out of the five of the whole programme) and she had the opportunity to immediately start exhibiting her work at the 'diploma' milestone of the Beaux-Art.
"Recently French collectors started being interested and buying my works. It is encouraging as you get the sense that you can live out of his. I know that, for the moment, I need to work in parallel to earn a living and pay the bills of such an expensive city like Paris.”
She loves the atelier in Baux-Art de Paris and she knows it is an important opportunity for her.
"Beaux-Art de Paris is a nice place: everyone is in his own world, but when you need something, you find support, pieces of advice, feedback and even a practical helping hand.".
I have tried to get some insight into the creative process of an artist.
"If I paint, I rarely listen to music. I need silence, and I need to concentrate and find my own rhythm. Music can take you away. I need to be alone."
The access to the atelier
"At a more professional level, you need full dedication. Your mindset should be set on creation for art. It is not something you can do after a 'normal' job or during the weekend. When you become artist, it is constant research, experimentation and dedication."
"I had a privilege for the last 18 Months: during COVID, I could work a lot, without hesitation. I could come here and dedicate much time to painting."
"Here, we have one of the most beautiful ateliers that you can have."
But she knows it is a part of her journey: "In the future, I want to be just an artist and live of my paintings. The last few years taught me that this is not impossible."
Everyone is an artist of some sort and many people desire to be an artist. The reality is only a few choose to live the life of an artist.
Nino has put this objective in perspective and lined up many steps and stages that you need to undertake to live as a painter. She is not yet there, but, so far, everything is in the right direction.
Another ‘story of hope’, which can maybe encourage those who are following a dream, a passion, a goal.
STORIES of HOPE. Simple stories of ordinary people that carry a message of hope, a fragment of future. I have been meeting incredible people, that transmit energy, passion, engagement. I talk to them and try to find their message of hope.
