In this inspiring conversation, artist Valeria Talian shares her journey from her birthplace in Bratislava, Slovakia, to building a life and artistic career in South Africa. Valeria moved with her family to Pretoria in 1990, where her father worked as a violinist. Although music surrounded her from an early age, her heart was drawn to the visual arts—spending hours visiting galleries and exploring different forms of creative expression.
We talked about her early fascination with making and experimenting, and how this innate curiosity has shaped her path as an artist. After living in England for two years and later qualifying in Early Childhood Development, Valeria found herself returning to art as a powerful outlet for creativity. She began exploring diverse mediums—from mosaics, drawing, and painting to the ancient technique of encaustic art.
Through years of experimentation—sometimes with surprising or even disastrous results—Valeria developed a distinctive mixed-media style that reflects both her European roots and South African experiences. Today, she continues to evolve as an artist and proudly exhibits her work at Art Africa Gallery, where her textured, layered pieces invite viewers into her world of colour, memory, and emotion.
The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
#artistinterview #southafricanartists #petrasittigtheartistsvoice
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In this inspiring conversation, artist Valeria Talian shares her journey from her birthplace in Bratislava, Slovakia, to building a life and artistic career in South Africa. Valeria moved with her family to Pretoria in 1990, where her father worked as a violinist. Although music surrounded her from an early age, her heart was drawn to the visual arts—spending hours visiting galleries and exploring different forms of creative expression.
We talked about her early fascination with making and experimenting, and how this innate curiosity has shaped her path as an artist. After living in England for two years and later qualifying in Early Childhood Development, Valeria found herself returning to art as a powerful outlet for creativity. She began exploring diverse mediums—from mosaics, drawing, and painting to the ancient technique of encaustic art.
Through years of experimentation—sometimes with surprising or even disastrous results—Valeria developed a distinctive mixed-media style that reflects both her European roots and South African experiences. Today, she continues to evolve as an artist and proudly exhibits her work at Art Africa Gallery, where her textured, layered pieces invite viewers into her world of colour, memory, and emotion.
The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
#artistinterview #southafricanartists #petrasittigtheartistsvoice
The Production Magician: Sophie Zimmermann and the Secret Life of Sets
Petra Sittig
35 minutes 14 seconds
3 months ago
The Production Magician: Sophie Zimmermann and the Secret Life of Sets
In this interview, I speak with Sophie Zimmermann, a talented production designer and set designer who proudly calls herself a "Production Magician"—and rightfully so. Sophie shares her passion for creating immersive, unforgettable experiences for live theatre, concerts, circus, and large-scale events, all while making the impossible possible.
From crafting intricate props and scenography to solving complex logistical puzzles, Sophie thrives on the challenges that come with transforming abstract creative visions into seamless stage realities. For her, the true magic lies in making everything look effortless—so that audiences can simply enjoy the moment, without ever wondering how the illusion came to life.
Currently, Sophie is part of the production team of “Terhal,” a groundbreaking Saudi theatrical show produced by Dragone in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The production is a spectacular fusion of Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage with cutting-edge stage technology, lighting, and natural elements—an ambitious celebration of the country’s evolving cultural identity.
Sophie also reflects on her recent work on the Helene Fischer's tour through Germany and Austria, where she enjoyed the dynamic nature of being in a different venue every three to four days, adapting designs to new spaces, and maintaining the visual magic across all performances. Another major highlight was her involvement in Eurovision 2026, where she helped orchestrate the monumental task of coordinating precise stage setups for each act—under tight time constraints and with no room for error.
Beyond the lights and spectacle, Sophie opens up about the unsung role of stage and production designers, advocating for greater recognition of the creativity, skill, and problem-solving that goes into every production.
And indeed, after hearing Sophie speak about her work with such clarity, warmth, and humility, one cannot help but agree—she is a true production magician. Her ability to conjure entire worlds, manage chaos behind the curtain, and deliver visual poetry to audiences across the globe is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Tune in to discover how Sophie brings magic to the stage—and why her work, and the work of countless others like her, deserves to be seen, valued, and celebrated.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-zimmermann/?locale=en_US
Petra Sittig
In this inspiring conversation, artist Valeria Talian shares her journey from her birthplace in Bratislava, Slovakia, to building a life and artistic career in South Africa. Valeria moved with her family to Pretoria in 1990, where her father worked as a violinist. Although music surrounded her from an early age, her heart was drawn to the visual arts—spending hours visiting galleries and exploring different forms of creative expression.
We talked about her early fascination with making and experimenting, and how this innate curiosity has shaped her path as an artist. After living in England for two years and later qualifying in Early Childhood Development, Valeria found herself returning to art as a powerful outlet for creativity. She began exploring diverse mediums—from mosaics, drawing, and painting to the ancient technique of encaustic art.
Through years of experimentation—sometimes with surprising or even disastrous results—Valeria developed a distinctive mixed-media style that reflects both her European roots and South African experiences. Today, she continues to evolve as an artist and proudly exhibits her work at Art Africa Gallery, where her textured, layered pieces invite viewers into her world of colour, memory, and emotion.
The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
#artistinterview #southafricanartists #petrasittigtheartistsvoice
