kurisu illusia | Interview
Pictured: Artwork of artist kurisu illusia
“Hidden in the depths, hidden from ordinary eyes, a magical stone shines, just like the sun.
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Belarusian artist kurisu illusia uses digital art and virtual identity to communicate experiences that are not always easily expressed in words. Drawing on the visual languages of anime, manga, video games and Vtubers, her practice explores self-expression, vulnerability and the process of finding her voice. At its centre is Kurisu, a recurring fair-haired character in a white dress who acts as a mirror for the artist’s emotions and her experience of stuttering.
In Harmony, kurisu reflects on a rare moment of feeling at ease with herself during a simple conversation. Its continuation, Essence, moves towards a deeper encounter with vulnerability, using the contrast between a white dress, black underwear and a ribbon symbolising stuttering. In this interview, kurisu discusses translating emotions into colour and form, rediscovering meaning beyond commissioned work, and developing a freer digital practice shaped by visible brushstrokes, lines and text.
How would you describe your artistic practice at this point in your journey?
Through art, I talk about life, which sometimes seems to build walls. Lines pave the way, they draw wings, and colors add an incredible impression to the long-awaited moment. My character Kurisu is my mirror, through which emotions are transformed into flowers and feelings into colors.
What themes, ideas, or questions are you currently exploring through your work?
A representation of my life through a virtual avatar and art; experiences, feelings, and emotions that are not always easy to convey in words. As a way to connect with other people.
Please tell us about the specific artwork/s you are presenting with The Alchemical Art.
“Harmony” was my first work in a series in which I began to reflect my story. Harmony is the moment in my life when I first felt harmony with myself during a simple conversation with people, without shame and self-criticism. This fleeting but persistent feeling of happiness with myself, as if you are flying high with joy and are about to touch your true “self”. “Essence” is a continuation in which I begin to understand myself, on a deeper level. Kurisu is in the center of attention, she holds her hands close to her face, thereby directing the viewer towards her. She is wearing a white alluring dress, through which you can see her underwear — an act of vulnerability and revelation. The white color is associated with peace and healing, and the black underwear is like a rebellious and protective part of me. The ribbon around her neck symbolizes stuttering.
Artwork ‘Essence’
How does your process usually begin, and how does a work develop?
Ideas for art appear suddenly and unexpectedly, after observing myself. Often I cry from how beautifully the idea can express my emotions. Then I look for a pose in which, I think, I will feel like myself first, which will be able to reveal me. Color, composition, details, everything is selected with the consent of feelings and emotions. It's like cooking, you try different things, everything that comes to hand and choose what is perfectly combined with each other. The main inspiration is always life, people, and their creativity; my eyes and heart are the final critics that decide what will end up in the finished dish. In the process, I am helped by the music of other creators and I can single out Alcest and flor.
Are there particular materials, gestures, symbols, places, or visual languages that feel important in your work?
While looking at my work, the first thing people will see is the anime style. Japanese animation has raised me to be a kind, understanding and humane person. Qualities that I want my art to reflect.
What drew you to present your work with The Alchemical Art?
I was at that stage of my creative life when I started to lose the meaning of my work. My main goal was commission work and the race for it. I can't blame myself, the situation forced me to work hard. And in my free time, I asked myself many questions: who am I, what makes my work unique, which, unfortunately, became difficult for me to answer. By chance, I came across The Alchemical Art. Writing this interview, I returned to my roots and everything began to make sense again. Therefore, I am grateful for such a wonderful opportunity to exhibit my work and talk about myself. And I believe that pleasant discoveries await me in the future.
What are you currently curious about, experimenting with, or moving toward in your work?
I really want to draw with my soul, not perfectly anatomically, freely. Truly my own. The last few years I have been interested in painting style, where you can see strokes of paint, but in digital art. I really like classical art. And also experiment and develop the theme of lines and text in artworks.
What advice would you give to other artists?
Don't be afraid to be yourself, with your amazing ideas — this is your uniqueness, your strength. Don't rush to chase trends and quick attention. Develop yourself and your creativity, which will be able to tell about you without words.
What would you like the audience to take with them after encountering your work?
Hidden in the depths, hidden from ordinary eyes, a magical stone shines, just like the sun.
Artist Biography:
kurisu illusia is a Belarusian artist who is interested in Japanese pop culture, as anime, manga and video games, but not limited by it. Over the past 6 years, her main focus in her work has been the topic of virtual YouTubers aka Vtubers. A new way of self-expression, which helped her to face fears, embracing vulnerability and find her “voice”. In personal works, the main figure is a young girl in a white dress and with fair hair. She is a reflection of the emotions, feelings, and life experiences of the author with a stutter. This is a lifelong story. “There has always been a fire inside me that has guided me to the most marvelous ideas, like the sun that never stops shining, even on nighty earth.”