Meet Aaron Ossia | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aaron Ossia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aaron, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
There is an extremely high level of dedication that it takes to be a practicing artist and maintain it as one’s career path. If you asked me this question about 10 years ago, I would have said that I decided to pursue an artistic career, in order to confront the world with my unique way of looking at things, and to change people’s perception. But today, I would tell you: I do art because I cannot otherwise! I do it because I feel if I don’t, I cease to exist in a meaningful way. I don’t think of it as a career, certainly not a business, but as a way to make sense of the world and my position within it. The idea of doing art for “no reason” has given me a heightened sense of freedom and liberated me from the angst of any perceived ideas of failure.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My practice is a study of line, the fragility within its power of order, and mark making as a way of recording objects and emotions. I work across multiple media and aim to leave a trace of my presence, to visualise the precision, perfection, and strength that lines and colour-as-material can produce. However, this strength also showcases a degree of fragility, instability, and futility. The cross-section of this dichotomy is where my practice comes to life. By layering paint, utilising wood beams as physical lines, resembling support systems or barriers in a given space, I create form and architecture. These works are often ephemeral and simultaneously possess a cynical level of futility and subtle pointlessness to them.

Through implementing a reductive language and process, I purposely distance myself from the notion of my own identity, cultural and socio-political background as a minority. However, this process in and of itself is a statement on the question of my identity. In their formality, one might consider my compositions, constructions and lines as abstract ideas, but in reality, they are facts and traces of my mind and activity that I leave behind.

My most proud moments in my career has been the experiences, during which I have reached a sense of freedom, a sense of being content with what I do, and if I had to name a few, I would have to mention my art residencies in Japan, my show at the Royal Scottish Academy and my one-person performances during the 2020 lockdown.

I changed my field of studies three times before I started studying fine arts! I believe that in itself is an indication of how time consuming and difficult it has been to reach my goals as an artist. I always say that leaving the arts is an extremely easy thing to do, considering the temptations of a more financially secure, comfortable and predictable lifestyle. But then again, all those things can be a bore. Ultimately, I believe one would only stay an artist, if one cannot imagine not doing art. I cannot survive the idea of not creating, I think I would go mad otherwise! That is why I think it is important for the world to understand, that being an artist is a creative struggle, a state of mind. It is a daily challenge that artist welcomes to their life not just in order to create something beautiful, but because they see it as their purpose in life. it might sound a bit depressive, but I think it is extremely liberating.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I find having company very challenging, so I would most likely come up with an excuse, and then run and hide in my studio and do some work! I would take them out to dinner though, in my favourite place called Restaurant 22 with its amazing 9 course menu, followed by a walk around town when it is empty and quiet, with the street lights on. The next day, I would probably take them to Bould Brother’s cafe, and walk to my local bookshop and browse through some books. I would also definitely take them to the Tate Galleries, The Heong Gallery and the Barbican. Oh, and of course, even if they resist, I would drag them down to the Royal Opera house, but only if something exciting is on. and I probably would also cook them dinner at home one night, but definitely avoid nightlife/clubbing!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Johanna Bolton. She is a fellow artist and someone I studied with and have collaborated with on multiple occasions.

Website: www.aaronossia.com

Instagram: @aaron.ossia www.instagram.com/aaron.ossia/