Artist Interview: Alexey Luka
Cooper: You are currently living in Moscow, are you from there? How would you describe the life of an artist living and working in Russia? Would you prefer to live elsewhere?
Luka: Yes, I’m from Moscow where you are very far away from a lot of interesting things.
Not sure I would want to live anywhere else, I love my city.
Spray cans, acrylics, or paper collage, you seem to transition so seamlessly between mediums. How do you create such surreal characters and abstract forms without losing your identity in the work, is the secret your color plays?
Maybe the color, but I always start with a sketch on paper. When the sketch is done, I then choose what technique I prefer to use for realizing it. But I do have some recognizable details that I try to use in most of my works.
Did you go to art school or formally develop your techniques?
I studied architecture for 6 years. So that’s why I prefer geometric shapes.
What would you want greats like Kazimir Malevich and El Lissitzky to see in your work?
Hah. I think if they found something interesting or funny it would be great.
Do you see yourself as an artist, a graphic designer, illustrator, or as something else entirely?
I see myself as a person who is interested it different ways of art.
If you had $250 to spend in two hours, how would you do it?
Depends on the situation, but I think I would buy a ticket to Saint Petersburg.
Does your work carry a message, or provoke any desired response?
Not sure about a message. But my works are like an everyday diary. A chronicle of what I see around me, around my friends.
My works are like a puzzle - people try to find different recognizable shapes that are mixed with abstract geometry. It could be anything, a man walking with his dog, or a large family waiting for their lunch. There is always a story to be found in my works.
I try to show typical situations from a different angle.
Where do you find cultural inspiration?
There are no limits, it could be found everywhere.
How much time do you spend on commissioned design work versus personal studio projects? What might you be doing if you weren’t making art?
It depends. As a freelancer, I can spend a month or two only for commercial works then 3 or 4 for personal. So it’s unpredictable.
What is your relationship with the Internets as it relates to art making?
I think it’s great that I can find a lot of information, share my works with other people around the world, watch what other artists are doing. So it’s perfect for communication with friends and other people.
Can we expect to see more installation or perhaps photography from you, what’s next?
Right now I’m working with some wood collages and some sculptures. About what’s next we’ll see, but I want to work in different directions.
alexeyluka.com
Interview by Justin Cooper © 2013