Gradually, however, they mature and look at the world with greater self-confidence. They are spreading body positivity awareness and appearing more emancipated in the male world. In her work, she also deals with what it is like to be a girl from a small city, striving for a better life, and leaving her past behind.

How are you? How did you spend the last weekend?
I’m good, thanks for asking! I was in Prague last weekend, visiting a gallery I hopefully will be working on some exciting things soon.

How do you generally spend your free time? What activities help you to get away from your work?
There is nothing in the world I love more than a good, satisfying day of painting. BUT what I almost love just as much as cooking—especially when I cook for my boyfriend, friends, and the people I love. Arranging celebrations, small gatherings, or themed parties is one of my favorite activities, and, God, I love it when the people around me are having fun! I also love to be scared; I like to watch horror movies and psychological thrillers, you know, the ones that get under your skin so much that you can’t stop thinking about them for a week. I am kind of a movie maniac, so cinemas, film festivals, or just binge-watching movies at home has always been my thing. On the other hand, I’m just a girl, so I also love to chat with my girlfriends and yap about everything—that’s one of my favorite things to do.

Is there a personal story reflected in the transformation of your characters from object to subject?
All my paintings are personal testimony for me. The characters I paint have a personal story. Each one of them. Sometimes they are just moments and emotions we all experience, like disappointment, grief, heartbreak, or anger. Other times there are specific experiences or snippets of them. When I paint my heroines, the thoughts that run through my mind are intimacy, innocence, loss, and lack of self-worth. They are in constant conflict with one another, protecting themselves from the disappointment of unfulfilled expectations.

The allure of danger is toxic and exhilarating, taunting them, addicting them. They want it all: attention, love, passion, and ultimately betrayal and harm, reminding them that they are nothing but human.

How do you begin your work?
I started dabbling in art when I was really young, but I never really thought I’d make a living at it. I thought I’d open a restaurant or do something in the film industry. I used to paint and draw a lot as a teenager but was always drawn to film; I don’t know why. The weird thing is that after high school I went to study English, but after the first semester I gave up because I didn’t have time to create because of my studies, so I just quit and applied to art academy. I still haven’t started painting there yet, and I’ve turned to graphic art. So, I did my bachelor’s degree in the graphics department, and then I applied for a master’s degree, where I started painting. I think the pandemic helped me a lot. It was a terrible time, but it taught me to be with myself and to rethink some things. After many years of being lost and not knowing what I was going to do in life, I discovered the thing that moves me forward every day and forbids me to turn back again.

Where do the symbols, such as bows and floral patterns, come from? Do they have a special meaning for you?
The symbolism in my paintings is very important to me. Focusing on details allows me to bring to the canvas even the most subtle nuances that can change the overall atmosphere of the work. That’s why every symbol or small detail has its meaning. Often the same symbolic elements appear in my work to give it a certain pattern. Many times, I give them meanings that I have made up, according to what they evoke in me. For example, in my works, ribbons and bows symbolize womanhood, love, passion, or attraction; in cherries, I see youth, purity, lust, or even blood. I also see a lot of meaning in grass, which I often depict in my works. It may symbolize life and death, or the connection of body and nature. When I’m working on a painting, I like to play with different paradoxes. For instance, I see white rabbits as an image of innocence, fertility, and the beginning of something new, but also as a vision of pure beauty, who fights with a heroine full of sin, lust, and impure thoughts.

What does your work, World’s Smallest Violin, 2023, express for you?
So, this painting is basically a close-up of a girl’s belly with her pants pulled down just enough to show her underwear. And on the underwear, it says, “Pass the tissues; we all got issues.” Super relatable, right? Like, everyone has stuff going on, and this painting kind of screams that we’re all a little messy inside, even if we don’t show it. It’s kind of funny but also a little deep. The underwear text is, like, sarcastic but true at the same time. It’s saying, “Hey, you’re not alone in your issues; we all have them.” The fact that she’s pulling down her pants a bit makes it feel like she’s letting us in on something personal, like her own little secret that’s not a secret. In the end, it’s like a reminder that everyone’s dealing with their stuff, and maybe we don’t have to hide it so much. There’s something freeing in just admitting it, you know?

In your works, we often see women with a strong impression holding weapons in their hands. What do you associate with the weapon?
In several of my paintings, I often focus on details. I try to emphasize even the smallest elements, such as the ribbons in the hair or the infantile underwear that evoke a sense of innocence and purity. However, some of the imagery also includes weapons that make us feel dangerous, and violent, but also protected. In these works I try to balance these conflicting feelings. Weapons can be dangerous and fear-inducing, but they can also be a means of protection from threats. When I paint, I try to show this duality, whether by depicting a weapon in the hands of an innocent-looking girl or some other combination.

What makes a heroine for you? What would you say to your heroines if you could meet them?
I see a hero in every girl, in every woman, but if I were to meet my hero, for example, a heroine from my paintings, I would tell her that she saved my life, but maybe she would tell me that I was looking in the mirror all that time.

What reactions from viewers surprise you the most?
As I live in Slovakia, a very conservative country, I get different opinions about my paintings from the viewer. What always surprises me is when I get a threat. It has happened to me many times, especially on the Internet. I understand that not everyone likes my work but wishing me dead or assaulting me seems a bit too much. But most of the time I just ignore it or pity the person who wrote it and move on.

What do few people know about you?
There isn’t a single food I wouldn’t eat, haha.

Do you listen to music in the studio? Which songs are your absolute favorites?
*I listen to a lot of music in my studio; it helps me to tune in to the painting I’m working on, so I always choose music according to the vibe I want to achieve in that painting. I’m a pop girlie all the way, so I can’t miss Sabrina Carpenter, Lana Del Rey, Charli XCX, Marina and the Diamonds, or Chapel Roan in my playlist. I also listen to a lot of movie soundtracks. I love the Twilight soundtrack or the soundtrack from the movie Black Swan.

What project are you currently working on? Can we see a new work of yours in Vienna soon?
I am currently working on several group shows and one solo show. I would love to start some cooperation in Vienna. I haven’t had the chance yet, but let’s see what time will bring.

Dominika Kováčiková – www.instagram.com/kkovacikova.dominika/