Slowly but persistently, a new kind of art has been inhibiting our consciousness. Namely, the cyber, computer or digital art, hallowed by gods and human subconsciousness. Unlimited formative and colour possibilities, with texts and images in a single form, offer us a new world, a new view of images, graphics and the artist himself. This has been proven by Leonard Rubins many times. Who are you, Leonard Rubins?

I’m a persistent worshipper of earth-roots and things above the clouds. I’ve dedicated myself to an extraordinary mission - and the world knows not of this. I take my delight in the everyday freedom of the meta-creation, at the pleasure of the matrix of our universe. I create all the time, and when discussing my opus I claim that he, who creates is always right! In my images, I’m the director of my own imagination. When presenting the galactical spatial compositions, which always lie deep in infinity, I allow many stories of a single image to come to life at the same time. I’ve constantly been discovering new horizons, like in endless fractal images, but have also been able to embrace any level of a single unit-detail in a given moment. The details in my works are not there to recreate reality, which by the way is the most important element of my personal style.

Art can be almost anything: a word, an image, an act; art is living and being here. Which element of your work represents the “to be” and which element represents the “Creator as the Big Father-Mother”?

The man exists, and is therefore the Creator in constant emerging. And I, a man, am constantly declaring myself. I create what I am. But bear in mind, that requires a lot of deep courage. The final product, an image born out of my darkness and light, is merely an atom of inner visions. From colour to composition, from the Sun and light to the universe, darkness and emptiness. All these elements tell me stories and reflect on me. This gives me strength and takes it away at the same time. In this I pass away and am reborn constantly.

You’ve been entering through the doors of the unknown and the inconceivable, and above all the man’s own unknown existence. To be a man, a part of the divine scheme, to have a divine touch - that is the desire and the need of anyone who sees your images.
Leonard, have you found the answer in your images?

I’m through with acts and displays of transitory actions. A monologue cannot bring life into an empty heart. The answer is somewhere out there, in my dream world. It dwells with unknown people and friends, which I’ve been addressing and looking for with my images.

 The present time, a mirror image of the renaissance, is the time of innovation and rapid progress. The technology, especially the cybernetics, has been presenting us with completely new expressive methods, views and dreams as well. The fact they cannot understand the work and creation has been leading people to a more simple conclusion; it’s all garish and daub. Wasn’t Leonardo da Vinci perceived exactly the same way? Do your images represent the eyes of future?

New things are coming. They always have been and always will, that’s inevitable. Today, time is passing faster than yesterday. I strongly feel all earthly material things, voluntarily harnessed into the vision of eternity. As each new day passes and stars light up the sky, everyday my images awake. I’m a dreamweaver who has been linked with the computer for quite some time now. I’m extremely interested in all that’s out of the ordinary and special in its own unique way. But all new things are not inspiring. Some time ago I decided to start using the computer instead of my hand tools, air brush and paper. The Artpen has become my creative hand tool. I believe in the harmony of "gods of technology", the human inventiveness and the artistic creativeness.
I have to mention the word »daub« which signifies hot emotions without the counterpoise of a cold mind -that’s why the rationalists have been so eagerly avoiding and fearing it; giving it a negative connotation,
because they are not able to understand why it has been poking them in their deficitary neuralgical point - is a completely harmless and not enough narrative word for me to be occupied by it. The sentiments, torn out of the emotional context and outside the intimate sphere, are irrational and therefore cannot be logically understood. We can sensually approach them, but that’s not the same by far. I’m absolute in my solitude and, if my creation presents me with such questions, couldn’t give less about them. Again: he who creates is always right! Observers are not able to appraise the sincerety of the artist’s experience simply by observing his work from a far.

Leonard Rubins is offering me a hand, a memory of spiritual experience and dreams of the universal light. You’re a very daring person and you know the future is on your side. Have you found peace in your images?

My soul knows no peace. I would very much like to be the person I’ve not been able to be yet! But who am I? That’s why I’ve been addressing myself and you with my images. But our true peace is not of this world, and the matrix of our universe has not been scheming with its own creation. The “IT” is my life and death in one. Should I express myself in a mystical way? "Gloria Dei intacta est" (the greatness of the Creator is untouchable). Hence the "formula": Gloria Deo, et in Domino inferi, et in Terra Vita hominibus. ...Om shanti, shanti...

Your website (www.leonardrubins.com) has many sections. One of them includes a section for the mysterious comprehension of the Creator. You’ve been living in a real world, wrapped in the leaves of colours and mystique, the never completely understood divine plan. Has Leonard Rubins found the meaning of his own life through symbolism?

There’s no sense in living if you’re afraid to look into the darkness and transitoriness, if you’re not worthy of the light and freedom beyond the rainbow. The gates of eden are closed to beings with empty hands and cold hearts. And there’s no way back home for them. I've been timelessly capturing the extent of my own desires by wanting to spread my wings, to rise high. Thus I find my meaning and take the way of the Light.

.... And in spite of it all, I'm merely an extraordinary expression of an ordinary man.

Besides telling stories with your images, you’ve also been designing stamps, book covers, websites, etc. The essence of your work is equally effective on stamps, book covers and your website still under construction (www.star-borne.com). Are you driven by the thought of a better world and future?

As I say- I am dreaming of a green planet and the islands of Light. Life always has and always will find its way of expression. Some way or the other. I respect that. Sometime and somewhere each living being turns everything over and becomes a part of the whole.

You’ve been creating in famous small village Vrba in Slovenia. You and your big family have been living a full and happy life, full or artistic creation.

Yes and no! That’s everyone’s ideal.
Yet I wonder what I would have done to have a bag full of dollars, to experience New Zealand, Matterhorn and BoraBora. Still, my life is full when passing through dark forests or climbing on tops of mountains, coming near to mountain ghosts, yearningly.

But how cruel becomes the wisdom when it brings no profit to the wiseman?


Iam finding the answer everyday in my own life by the warm embrace of our planet.

Thank you for your answers, Leonard Rubins. Let our planet become a nice home to all the readers, but above all let it fulfill you great desire - to SEE and EXPERIENCE the WHOLE planet.

Interviewer: SONJA KORANTER, novelist and poet.

PS.: Artist is looking a place for exibition: leonard@siol.net