Diyana is London born with British and Serbian heritage, living between Athens, Rome, Paris, & London, she is a self declared European.
A performing artist from the start, evolving into the self taught contemporary artist that we see today.
She attended a professional Ballet & Performing Arts School from a young age and at 16, The English National Ballet School. Her stage debut was at just four years old going on to perform at historical venues including, The Royal Albert Hall, Sadlers Wells, Wembley Stadium and Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
A natural progression from stage to screen, Diyana appeared in European Film and Television projects, which lead her to travel extensively igniting her curiosity for different cultures, languages, philosophy & mythology.
Diyana’s exploration into art began during the Covid pandemic. A frustration to all, but particularly performing artists.
Art suddenly became an outlet for her creativity and an opportunity to express herself. This gave her freedom, despite being in lockdown.
Her works are greatly inspired by her years of dancing and fascination for the human body and movement. Having always harboured a love for lights and reflective materials, gilding metal leaf was a natural choice of technique, a technique she was accustomed to with her Father being an antique furniture restorer.
After some research she understood that this attraction to gold and shimmering materials was not unique only to her, but since the beginning of time humans have been attracted to gold and silver. Formed during the explosions of stars and collisions of asteroids, the Egyptians referred to it as the flesh of the gods while the Incas described it as the sweat of the sun. At first it was used for its beauty and eye catching qualities in the form of jewellery and for idols of worship and later appreciated for its precious value, endurability and workability. Which later became an asset for currency that brought with it security and a safe haven in times of peril.
A treasured long term friendship with the late musician Vangelis, influenced Diyana enormously in many ways. Known publicly as a composer, in truth he was also an extremely talented artist, a talent he generously shared with her.
His music has often been the catalyst for a spark of inspiration. It was also through Vangelis’ collaborations with NASA and the European Space Agency and the experiences he shared with her, that created this curiosity and expanded her knowledge regarding space and the cosmos.
Being an avid theatre goer, time spent living in Athens drew her attention to Ancient Greek Texts, in particular the book Phaedrus (Φαιδρών) written by Plato in 370BC. He can be quoted as saying “he was sure and positively believed that we have the capability to grow wings that we keep suppressed within” He called these “The Wings of the Soul.” Plato also said, “The Wings of the Soul, when extended have the strength to lift up high, above the sky, those who had lightened their souls, by immersing themselves deeply into philosophical matters, freeing themselves of material value and correcting any wrong doings that weighed their soul down and then were able fly to the destination in the sky where the Gods reside and as human beings, this is our endeavour”.
As most human beings, Diyana hopes for there to be a continuation of the existence of consciousness after life on this planet and all of this evidence not only written by Plato, but also depicted on hieroglyphics from the Announaki in Mesopotamia 4500 BC, the Tengu in Japanese folklore, Horus, Icarus, Nephthys and Lamma. This endless list helped feed her imagination and beliefs of extraterrestrial and ethereal winged beings.
Diyana also believes in Plato’s Theory of Knowledge and recollection of past memories. So, her claim of being self taught is questionable.
She is an experimental artist, using a various mediums and disciplines creating aesthetically striking and harmonious works. They emit a sense of mystery about the unknown, maybe connecting us with something beyond our current understanding.
