The wonderment of long Arabian Gulf shoreline of beaches and dunes, the desert and the landscapes of Qatar are among the subjects where Eva Horup drew inspiration for her artworks. A Lithuanian and Doha-based artist, Eva’s art is distinctive — she uses epoxy resin that makes her art come alive in 3D.
Her art is an immersion, a retrospective of a capsulated scene of a sea or landscape. A delve into the details of nature; her art has a sense of depth that submerges an individual to the elements of nature; her work is the nature in art. There is calmness when you look at her pieces, almost an enchantment how the colours burst to life.
The Peninsula talked to her and asked how she started and her take on the growing art industry in the country.
Eva Horup with her Nacre painting
Could you tell us who Eva is? How and when did you learn that you are meant to be an artist?
I am a Lithuania-born artist who draws inspiration from the many different cultures I’ve encountered and countries I’ve visited. I spent a lot of time in Africa and Scandinavia, for about two decades, before coming to the Middle East. Since then, I haven’t looked back and lived in Oman and Kuwait before settling here. Qatar has a special place in my heart and I’m proud to call this peninsula my home. It is rich with tradition, beauty and history and I have used the culture and the people to inspire me in much of my recent art pieces and series.
In terms of what led me to be an artist, well, I’ve always been creative and into art from a very young age. However, it took me some time to turn this passion into a full-time career. When I graduated from high school, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to do something that allowed me to be inspired, and to create. Eventually I decided to do a bachelor’s degree in Event Management as I was interested in the project management aspects of running large scale events. I went on to have a successful career in events management in the Middle East for over ten years, but during that period I was always painting and drawing during my spare time. Art has always been my one true passion, but it took me a few years to fully realise this.
Tell us about the medium you are using, especially the epoxy resin. Why did you choose that medium
Epoxy resin is a liquid medium of two parts, and it hardens after mixing to create a beautiful solid transparent polymer. I love working with this medium because of the results it gives. It’s easily mixed with other mediums such as acrylics to create a unique colour palette. In my work I often mix resin with sand and amber gemstone pieces to create a 3D effect to my work.
Can you tell us where do you get inspiration for your subjects?
I’m mostly inspired by the beauty and versatility of the different landscapes and terrain of Qatar. In my time here as a resident, I’ve grown a close bond with the desert landscapes and the natural splendour of the coastline. At the weekends, if I’m not spending time with my family, or painting, you’ll often find me out at sea, exploring Qatar’s coast and its vast range of textures and colours.
I take it all in, using these experiences to project the beauty I see into my resin-on-canvas creations. I really like to represent Qatar’s seascape in my paintings in a way which is similar to aerial topography (Google Earth) and accentuate the hues of the environment. Seashells and especially the inner part of shiny shells, where pearls are created, called Mother of Pearl or Nacre, is of particular inspiration to me at the moment.
How does Eva differ from other artists?
I haven’t seen any other artists using resin on large canvas and I think this is key in my differentiation from other artists out there. It is a challenging process and takes a number of years and dedication to master as there are many technical aspects to bear in mind when working with this medium on canvas, such as horizontal levelling and knowing what’s the perfect ratio (weight) of resin to use.
How do you contribute to the art industry in Qatar?
The art scene in Qatar is bustling with creativity and diversity and I like to think I contribute to this by offering another perspective in what art is and how creations are made. I also pay homage to Qatar, which I think is important in showcasing to the world the state’s rich heritage. For instance, my recent Nacre painting series draw inspiration from the mother of pearl and tells a story of Qatar’s tradition and pearl-diving roots.
Are you still holding workshops for children and adults? Can you tell us more about it?
Yes, I still run these workshops. I believe I am facilitating nonstandard abstract art workshops experiences, where participants have the opportunity to engage in a therapeutical benefit of letting it go and not worrying about the final result. Instead, they are present in the moment, listening to their inner self and expressing their feeling with colours on canvas. Mixing resin, weighing it on a scale, and adding pigments brings the magic and joy of alchemy, and many of my participants tell me later that they found the experience very enriching.
After pouring resin on canvas, you have a minimal influence to change the course of process at this curing stage, so my workshops are very much about letting go and trusting in your creative process.
Children are naturally artistic and willing to learn new ways to express this without fear of ridicule; so to enhance this connection with source of creativity, nature, is very empowering for them. I usually hold my workshops outside, eliminating the conventional seating and desk environment, to create fun in a non-competitive atmosphere.
Any message for emerging artists on honing their craft?
Trust your gut and go for it! I think it’s also important to try as many fields of visual arts as possible. Art is a beautiful process and it’s about finding something that allows you to express yourself — what you see and what you feel, and something that gives you the most satisfaction. This process of self-exploration is not necessarily easy, but it’s a beautiful journey of self-discovery, ingenuity and innovation.
Eva’s zest on art is deep-rooted to her soul; every mix and pour of hues into the canvas is a multifarious outlook of a piece. A majestic tactile unto how she unfolds nature into art.
