We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alex Vlasov a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alex, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
Well, the idea of optimism was always the job of art. And you, as an artist, carry on this responsibility. It is part of the gig that you signed up for, you know.
Just think about the times we are living in. There is so much bigotry or hatred. So, the question is how you can respond to all that. For me, optimism, love, and hope are always my answers to all I observe in our culture.
Being an artist is a very bold move in our society. Because first, they try to starve you. Then, they look at you like you are an alien. And finally, when you achieve your goals and dreams, they hate you because they aren’t you. But you still carry on all these years unbeatable. I think it has to do something with endurance. Because what you are trying to do over the years is just to share your love for the world and provide an antidote to the period in which you are present. Thus, you can’t simply give up. You know what I mean?
It was never about making objects that people could buy. Being an artist is more than that. Making art is to think, to feel, to dream, to roam, to inspire, to believe, or to laugh, along with many other things. All of that are synonyms of the word “free” to me. And when you have that, you are not just free. You also have so much love for this life and optimism for a better tomorrow.
In that sense, art is a weapon that can protect you during difficult times. Art can really impact the human spirit. It is our hope.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I make paintings. I do not feel that I have any talent for that, you know. But making paintings is just what I really wanted to do. That came to me when I was twenty-four years old. I said, “I want to do it more than anything, and I will do it no matter what.” And I went for it all in.
I don’t gamble. But with painting, it is pretty much like going to Las Vegas, metaphorically. If you want to make paintings for the rest of your life, you might lose your car. And if you just lost your car, you better have the stomach to put your house on. It might sound too extreme, but this is how I paint.
If you look at my paintings, where I use construction materials, I paint very roughly. I brutally screw things to the wall. I do not follow any traditional conventions. My paintings are not too bourgeois in that sense. I think that’s why people find my work funny because of its ironic statement like: “Oh, you want these precious objects for sale? I’ll give it to you.”
But it’s not like I achieved anything special so far. Actually, I did not achieve anything yet. I had a few shows and won some prizes. But it is only the beginning for me.
Going back to my metaphor, I am still playing cards at a card table in that sense. But I am still in the game. Anything can happen at any time. It is merely a question of resilience and faith. So, I paint like it is all or nothing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I don’t know, I work a lot. That is the one. I am also lucky enough to be around intelligent artists up to this point. The quality of being surrounded by a community of like-minded people is priceless. I think that’s the most important thing. And lastly, I have no doubt. I really believe in what I do.
In terms of advice, it’s pretty simple. Find something that you truly love and go for it with joy in your heart. Work hard, and you’ll be alright.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
It is difficult to pick one. Many books come to my mind since I read quite a lot. One of my favorite writers of all time is Erich Maria Remarque. I read almost all his books in my early twenties. There’s just so much hope and love in Remarque’s novels. Even though the situations in which his characters exist are hopeless. You never put your hands down if the world is going to hell. You still stay unbeatable.
Contact Info:
- Website: avlasov.com
- Instagram: alexey_esenin
