What personality traits help the artist to make art, and what hinder?

I think they are different for everyone. I create because I cannot help but create, this is my air.

As for practical and personal qualities, in any business, including in art, discipline, diligence, perseverance, ambition, self-confidence, sociability, honesty and a constant desire to search for new forms and ideas are important to achieve success. And the most important thing is inner freedom, the ability to go beyond the perception of reality. And the lack of what helps, obviously, hinders.


What is your favorite thing to do besides art?

I like spending time with my wife, going to exhibitions and vernissages. I do sports from time to time. To be honest, I don't have any hobbies, I can sit in my workshop and work all the time.

Have you ever had a situation in your life that influenced your art positively/negatively? Or has it greatly changed the way you look at what you do?

My art is influenced by everything around me, my inner reflection is the fuel for my paintings.

I spent many years as a volunteer at the «AdVita Foundation», helping sick children. This changed me a lot, my level of perception of the world and myself.

This is a very difficult but rewarding time for me. Many things excite me and give me a new view on reality.


Who would you like to speak to of any person who has ever lived or is living now? Why that person in particular?

I would like to talk to Jeff Koons, for me he is the epitome of the modern successful artist. Also Jean-Michel Basquiat — he is interesting to me as the embodiment of inner freedom.  

In general, I am focused on the present day, so I am very interested in communicating with contemporary young Russian artists who subtly feel the trends of a changing world.

How does your art change the world, the culture, and yourself?

I hope this will be written about in 21st century art textbooks — a question that art critics and art historians should probably answer.

Through my art I want to arouse emotions in people, to draw attention to complex and deep themes of intrapersonal experiences and relationships, to surprise, to make people laugh, and to make them think.

My art for me is a journey through my inner world, self-diagnosis and self-exploration, diving into my soul in search of answers to the questions the modern world asks of me.


What do you think the future of contemporary art is?

It's going to evolve, it's going to change with the way the world around it is changing. I don't think art will go digital even in 100 years. Until people go completely into virtual reality, they will need material works of art.

'Technology and materials will change, but the main thing in art will still be human.'

What do you think about the ups and downs of NFT? Do you plan to enter this niche?

I haven't dived into this topic yet, but it would be interesting to figure it out and to transform some works into NFT.


What is the most valuable thing to you (in the world, in life, in creativity)?

The most important thing in the world is people. We forget how fragile and complex human beings are and that we need to treat them with care and attention.

The most important thing in life for me is the opportunity to do what I love, to develop. And, of course, my family. It is also important to love, to do what makes me happy.

'The most important thing in creativity is to remain free and honest in my statements and to continue to work despite any difficulties and problems.'