Imperfect Buddha

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Patterns L
inzy Kokoska’s
art involves
expressionism,
‘decorativism’,
symbolism and

of Life
secession; and a
range of abstract
or non-figurative
scenarios depicted
with the use of natural elements and
emotions. It’s where “colour supersedes
the natural colour of objects, making
things look dreamlike. Natural elements
aren’t copied, nor interpreted, but, really,
created and transformed into concepts
that reveal the patterns of life,” Linzy says.
By Karina Lazarraga She invites her audience to take
a fresh look at everyday things that
according to her, we sometimes overlook:

Rainy Day Garden

“I feel that my art expresses things in
life such as details of simple things. It
demonstrates that anything is possible,
and everything big or small holds great
beauty. Creativity and imagination can
take you anywhere and that dreams can
be interpreted visually.”
Some of the images are apt symbols
of the digitalised universe we all now live
in. The lines shown depict a ‘crazy’ quilt
of wires connecting servers in secret
locations of the worldwide web.
Linzy’s art addresses various themes;
with the materials used varying according
to how she feels: “Sometimes I use
traditional methods, such as oil paints,
watercolour, ink, collage and so on. I also
do a lot of digital art and photomontage
work in Photoshop and Illustrator.
Whatever my mood is, I go for it.”
Seeing the images, you almost feel
like you want to reach in and touch
the art works - which if you do, can be
a surprisingly moving experience, an
unexpected journey into the world of art.
The more you experience Linzy’s
works - a happy jumble of metaphorical
perfection, the more it will cover
everything around you, like a swirling
image from life itself, then later embedded
deep into your dreams.
She is fascinated by the works of
Wassily Kandinsky, Gustav Klimt, Saul
Steinberg, Jackson Pollock, Jean-
Michel Basquiat, Vincent Van Gogh,
Urban Buddha
Pablo Picasso and Oscar Kokoschka. her parents’ and grandparents’ stories
“I think I am most influenced by the first about their travels, as well as her multi-
three of these artists. Like Kandinsky, cultural origin.
I’m influenced by philosophy and the She says she has a lot to thank her
spiritual aspect of art. I first saw a family for. “I was brought up to be open
Kandinsky piece in the Chicago Museum to new experiences, to different people
of Art at the age of 19, and have never and cultures, to learn and understand
responded or felt a connection to an as much as I could about the world and
artist’s work, as I do to his works. Klimt the people in it. I always knew that I
is a decorativist and symbolist and I see would travel a lot in my life, and in each
country I’ve lived in, I have grown more
as a person and as an
“Natural elements aren’t copied, artist. If I didn’t travel,
nor interpreted, but, really, created I’m not sure who I would
and transformed into concepts that have become. I don’t
want to know.”
reveal the patterns of life.” Linzy did not chart the
traditional route of taking
a lot of similar traits in my work and feel up a degree in Fine Arts, but instead went
that his influence has helped me to grow on to obtain a Bachelor of Commerce in
not only as an artist, but as a designer. Advertising. Whilst at university, she took
Lastly, I love the work of Saul Steinberg; art classes with a private art teacher at a
he is one of the reasons why I became local art institute during her free time.
interested in illustration and design.” After leaving university, Linzy pursued
This 31-year-old artist, who’s also a learning about art around the world with
freelance graphic designer and teacher, different artists - from traditional Korean
was born on Cape Breton, in Nova Scotia, art, abstract art in Bali and Thailand;
Canada - where exploring was a big and in Europe, studying with artists in
pastime for her. The travel bug eventually Germany, Denmark and Holland.
bit her which stemmed from listening to In 2007 she was back in Canada
studying at the Toronto School of Art,
where she began exploring oil and water
painting, collage and mixed media.
Linzy later participated in several
exhibits, shows and competitions in
Copenhagen; Muscat, Oman; Singapore;
Los Angeles, California; Seoul, South
Korea and Canada.

Commission work also takes up some

Fascinated by the various elements that connect the dots of of her time. Her last projects included
life, artist Linzy Kokoska’s works are simultaneously sweet one in Canada where an Indie rock band
and subversive, making ordinary things special.
1 SHOUT Confidential July 2010 July 2010 SHOUT Confidential 2
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used her art for their compilation; and a

Seoul Flower
fellow artist in the US who asked her to
create a flower themed-abstract painting
for his wife. “When other artists appreciate
your work enough to want to have a
piece, it gives me a sense of purpose, a
feeling that I have achieved something,”
expressed Linzy.
“When I was 18 I realised that art was
a big part of who I was. There was this
one painting that I made, that gave me a
strong drive to create more. I look back at
that one painting and I’m so grateful for
that moment. That’s when I considered
myself an artist,” she says.
This isn’t at all surprising as Linzy
comes from an artistic background.
On her mother’s side of the family - her
grandfather was a painter and her aunt
an interior designer. Her mother is a
watercolourist and sister Amy is also an
artist. Her father’s family comes from
Eastern Europe, and are distant relatives
of the late Austrian-born painter of
expressionist portraits and landscapes,
Oskar Kokoscka.
To further her craft, Linzy is currently
finishing her Master’s degree in graphic
design and digital art via correspondence
from a private institute in New York. “Never be less
Recently married to Moroccan than who you
professional football player Jamal
Brarou, Linzy says life is good. She’s
are. Always
eyeing a few projects in Italy, as well as strive to be a
expanding her network in the island by better person.”

staging some exhibits locally. Linzy is Apart from art, you’ll find her spending
also interested in collaborating with other time on the beach and practising yoga,
artists and possibly fashion designers, which she loved doing so much that
to work on making printed textiles and ten years ago she became a yoga and
creating a collection. pilates teacher. “Anything that involves
Does she ever tire of making art? movement like dance and fitness, I cannot
Linzy replies that: “There is something live without.”
inside of me that I cannot truly explain but Her guiding principle in life? “Never be
this thing pushes me to keep creating, less than who you are. Always strive to be
to go beyond my current abilities and to a better person.”
produce images that, on one hand, create
a technical impact, a new method of You can contact the artist via email:
creation, and on the other hand, images linzy.kokoska@gmail.com
that speak words and can translate
emotions. I’m also motivated by the
people who enjoy the work that I do. They
understand my work and appreciate it.
I find that very rewarding and want to
be able to give more and to tell a story
through my work.”
Linzy dreams of one day having her
very own art studio - where she can
design and work on her art endlessly.
“I have a dream of having my patterns
and designs featured on handbags and
textiles, to create a brand of sorts. But
opening

ultimately, I just want to be happy and

successful, Linzy says. Linzy Kokoska

3 SHOUT Confidential July 2010