What experience first made you realise you were an artist?
I first realised I was an artist when I began creating conceptual photography projects as a way to cope with depression. Art became a tool for reflecting on my emotional state and responding to the world around me.
For nearly fifteen years, photography was my primary medium. More recently, I have started experimenting with video, digital art, installation, and 3D sculpture, expanding the ways I can tell stories and explore ideas.
What does a typical day look like for you – in work and in life?
I work on new projects from my apartment, so my schedule is quite flexible. I enjoy working in the mornings—searching for references, finding models when needed, sketching ideas for future photographs and drawings, and listening to music for inspiration.
When I finish working, I leave the piece somewhere visible and return to it throughout the day. Looking at it with fresh eyes helps me understand what I want to change or improve the next day.
What do you struggle with the most in your creative work, and how do you confront it?
In recent years, I have been experimenting with different mediums and trying to bring my background in photography into them. While I feel confident working with photography after many years of practice, it can be difficult not to feel imposter syndrome when working in newer mediums.
What helps me overcome it is curiosity. The desire to learn, experiment, and discover new possibilities is usually stronger than my doubts.
Which ideas, people, or works have most influenced the way you think?
In photography, I have been influenced by artists such as Lucas Blalock, Gregory Crewdson, Asger Carlsen, and Cindy Sherman. Their work has shaped the way I think about images and storytelling.
I also love visiting exhibitions and museums and discovering new artists. Many of my friends are artists, and their work often inspires me as well.
If you could change one thing about how people experience your work, what would it be?
I find beauty in things that are strange or unsettling. I also love the characters in my work and often see them as cute rather than scary.
I hope more people will notice the beauty in these unusual characters as well.
How to find Katya:
https://www.instagram.com/ezhingel/
https://ekaterina-zhingel.tilda.ws/
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