Lost in a Dream
Interview: Oksana Badrak
by Andee Eve Husney


I begin the journey winding up the hill to visit Oksana Badrak at her studio in Mount Washington; the road bends and twists to my destination. Her assistant opens the door to a beautifully manicured studio with a stunning view of the hills overlooking downtown Los Angeles. Gorgeous as it is, the view from the window isn’t enough to take my eye off of the mammoth piece Oksana has just had framed for her upcoming show at Black Maria Gallery in Atwater.

This triptych shows one of two ‘worlds’ that Oksana explores for the current “Moon Over Drifters” show, one of which is an ethereal dream place, the other is a more real place. I cannot help but notice, however, the juxtaposition of what takes place in each ‘world.’ It seems as though ‘real’ things take place in the fantasy locale and un-real occurrences find themselves situated in the ‘real’ world.

Confusing? In words, yes. In images it is absolutely clear. But I believe that is why we have art, to say that which cannot be captured in spoken language. And Oksana Badrak knows just how to communicate in the visual.

The triptych shows creatures (little white beings with red faces, based on the Japanese Macaque monkey) drifting in boats on a body of water delicately sprinkled with lotus blossoms. Quite honestly, it’s a place, I’d love to visit, and maybe never leave.

Another piece, from the more ‘real world’ is of two dogs, one facing the viewer, dressed in human clothing. She wears what looks to me like a 1950s shirtdress. Quite a little housewife that Belka!

Aha, she has a name, I learn. The dogs are based on two real dogs that were sent from Russia in the 1950s into outer space. Many dogs were left there because they could not be brought back. Two made the journey home, Belka and Strelka. In Oksana’s telling, Belka bears a striking resemblance to her Pomeranian Lola. (Who by the way is precious, not a yapper or a twitterer at all.)

Why Russia? I didn’t ask this one, but I imagine that being born in Russia somehow imprinted this story on Oksana’s psyche. Badrak came to the United States when she was 15 years old. When she tells stories of her childhood, I have that feeling again. I’m back to where I go when I look at the triptych. I just want to get lost.
Oksana grew up in the world of the arts. Her father was a choreographer and her mother was in theatre design. Oksana lived in a home that was filled with the energy and inspiration of many creative people coming in and out all the time.

When I was growing up, my parents friends would sometimes bring me presents, a Barbie Doll, maybe. But life was different at the Badrak’s. Oksana recalls a time a friend of the family gave her a gift of a blue wig that was no longer needed in a production. The house was filled with the unusual, with wonder. This world of fantasy was commonplace for her, as was watching her mother create out of her bare hands.

It was so magical watching my mother, the way she could cut these perfect circles with the x-acto knife…”

Magic huh? I’d say it’s magic to see how Oksana uses her own original mixed media process to visually describe her work. This is a process that Badrak has been honing since 2001. In art school she was working traditionally in three different areas. Following the advice of Rob Clayton, Oksana brought the three together, developing her own signature style.

The mixing of media is liberating because I can do a watercolor, scan it, print it using an archival process, varnish it, and then paint in oils on top.”
Then asked about what goes on in the various worlds that she depicts, Oksana simply states that surreal things often happen here in our world, and real things happen in our dreams.

True enough.

But don’t take my word for it, come see for yourself. Oksana Badrak will be showing at Black Maria Gallery at 3137 Glendale Blvd. in Atwater through June 21st.

Andee Eve Husney is an artist living and working in Atwater Village.



To see what Andee is up to when she’s not writing, visit her at www.andeeevehusney.com