Interview with Artist Ruslan Korostenskij

-         How did you extend your career so that it came to embrace both directing in film and painting? 

-         There have not been any specific changes. I started painting before I began to film, and painting has always been not only my hobby, but a life passion. Besides, any professional cinematographer cannot do without at least quite good knowledge of drawing or painting. In anyone’s lifetime life priorities may change, and it happened so that little by little painting has come to play the leading role in my professional career.  

-         The Russian painter Nikas Safronov has once said that authorship is not the prerequisite for his painting. How do you view authorship in your work?

 -         For me it’s the opposite: authorship is its cornerstone. In painting, just as in any other art,.one’s authorship is a very important and engaging aspect. All paintings that I could exhibit are auteur works: in them I think, experiment, discover, and experience. Painting is me put on canvas. As an author, I cannot disregard authorship and my personal style.

 -         What ruling principles do you refer to when studying the paintings by great masters, or when appreciating paintings by contemporary painters?

 -         This is the question that embraces all concept of art. For me art is always about emotions: when seeing a painting, does one feel his emotions, experiences, contemplations arise or not? For me this is the primary criterion. In addition, I believe that a work of art has to reflect its time. There is no secret that as history changes, performance in art changes, too. This is very interesting to observe. Thus I can see how renowned painters, real masters, whose work is now scrupulously analyzed in academic art sources, felt at a loss and, under the influence of historic changes were dramatically changing their personal painting style, looked for new ways of self-expression and adaptation to the new environment and ever-changing history. This is understandable. Every  technique succeeds in transcending certain emotions, yet innovation is born when the artist, suffering from a shortage of available techniques, is looking for new ways of expressing themselves in a different manner, experimenting with different styles until he discovers himself in the changed, new environment. Painting allows to understand what great, insurmountable differences are among different painting “languages”, i.e., techniques.

 -         Do you experience any feelings when parting with your paintings?

 -         Of course, I do. On second thought, though, I am pleased to know that a person has selected my painting; therefore, my work gives them warmth, good spirits and pleasure. But you know, if I didn’t like the person, I could not give my painting away. The painting itself as well as my relationship with it is very intimate. It is like a newborn that takes away all mother’s strength at birth. Though mother’s pains may be alleviated, the artist will never be granted such assistance: all creative work is the outcome of experience and restlessness, and absence of peace. History knows many examples when artists were not able to suppress the upheaval of emotion they experienced. This is why every painting is very dear to me, while creation per se is a very exhausting process.

 -         Where do you take inspiration?

 -         Painting requires immense concentration. Such creative process is exhausting. When one paints, they as if merge with canvas and oils, the time no longer exists for them, everything stops. Only after a certain color or oil has finished, does one realize that time has passed unnoticed. Then one nearly drops with fatigue. Just like any work, painting is an activity subject to inspiration. However this activity cannot be started as soon as it has been conceived and developed. First you have to “catch fire”, think through it, nurture it and only then transplant it onto the white canvas.

 -         Have you had any particularly unforgettable projects that were related to interesting or famous people? In more general terms, how do you apply the classical art of painting to the modern rhythms and consumer demands?

 -         As a creative and socially conditioned person, the artist has to keep up with the times. Therefore, in my opinion, the portrayal of one’s contemporaries is the direct and arguably the most interesting theme in painting. I have had a wonderful opportunity to paint the portrait of the Head of Ukrainian commuity in Lithuania. This was the commission of his great family whose roots have been traced to the 16th century. Since I myself am a Ukrainian, the members of his family were happy to know that the portrait will be painted by their compatriot. On the other hand, very project, and painting in particular, has its own designation that cannot always be measured by the conventional measure in the world of today, money. As many painters, I am an emotional person and believe that some of the projects can and have to be done “for the sake of the idea”, although I would agree that nowadays it sounds unusual. I have donated my painting “The Battle of Grunwald” to Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite on her Inauguration Day. Currently I am completing another project: I am painting three portraits for Vilnius University Library. This project is dear to me: next year the 440th anniversary of the Library will be celebrated. When younger, I spent a lot of time in its walls. I respect books and the teachings they transcend to others. This has prompted me to give my tribute to the Library to express, if you will, my respect and gratitude.

 -         What was the best compliment you heard after a personal exhibition in Riga this summer?

 -         I will acknowledge that this exhibition has grasped the attention of many people regardless of the crisis and summertime. The exhibition was a success and received very positive critical appraisal. I was pleased to hear a local collector say about my work that “Many painters know how to paint. Yet there are few real artists. Mr. Ruslan Korostenskij is one of this rare gemstones”. Such recognition of my work was very pleasing.

 -         Thank you.