Victor: A lot of. Being an artist in my country is a great challenge) The cultural-historic context in Russia is very specific – in czar Russia most of people couldn’t read and lived very poorly, so art was available only for the aristocrats. Then, after the Revolution it was time for Marxism-Leninizm philosophy, which has its own look on art and artists. It was good time for propaganda and censorship. Besides, if you had no official job, you could be convinced of parasitism as a criminal. (This law lost its power only in 1991!) Till now huge part of Russian people lives in need: need of perspectives, good-payed jobs, competent medicine, humane laws and transparent, opened political life.

But on the opposite, and it’s a paradox, this climate is just perfect to make art. Permanent pressure, need and hunger are artists’ best friends) You always have a lot of conflicts, it’s just left to pick the right one. Only when it’s no conjuncture, when you aren’t payed, when your art is a therapy and a sculptor’s knife just for you, then finally you can say what you really want to say, and find the best «words» for it.

Now some words about artistic challenges. As I have said, it’s a therapy and attempt to solve the conflict. I try to do my art so, that it could make me better, and it’s not easy, because I prefer to dig deep to the darkest and dirtiest parts of my nature. And last, but not least – it’s pretty difficult to surprise yourself, to spread the borders without loosing your identity.