Alina Gutkina, artist
The heroines of the first Wonderzine publication do different things - they edit magazines and websites, open stores, invent clothes, arrange meals, sing in a group, do art and manage international companies. One thing unites them - everything that they do causes the processes around to accelerate. They are energetic, professional, self-sufficient and attract the same to them. No wonder almost everyone asked the question "What girls inspire you?" They answer that they do not know how to equal people who they personally do not know. But on their own equal other girls who will become our heroines very soon.
How has the art industry changed since you started working in it?
When I came to art, the industry as such did not exist. Then sharply appeared Winzavod, Artplay, and many commercial stories that had already covered themselves, apparently having exhausted themselves in this territory. Now the base is non-profit structures, the same funds and the opportunity to go abroad thanks to the interest in Russia and Eastern Europe as a whole. Interest in art from the media has grown tremendously. Created profile magazines and sites. And with the market a full pipe. But are we here for this? Support, of course, is not enough. At one time I was a gallery artist, but now my gallery simply ceased to exist. Such processes are like waves, these are opportunities between which big breaks arise.
What interests you right now?
Two or three years ago, I completely switched to art with a “here and now” orientation - performances, research and observation. I notice my movement from observation and research to full immersion in the subculture, in my case - in rap. Previously, it seemed to me that art - separately, music - separately, but now I work with rappers. I see a huge interest in street culture from commercial brands. They exploit these concepts. This does not appeal to me, although monetization is a rather natural process. I am exploring just this moment of loss of independence of the subculture and its becoming a product.
I am inspired by dudes, not girls
In May in New Holland, at the invitation of the New York Family Business Gallery, I had a performance with the musician and producer Beat Maker Beat and the young Moscow-based MC S.Frante. The performance "Dude, it's a repchik" looked like this: there is a BMW of the fifth series, rappers sit in it and write music. The viewer has the opportunity to get into the car - then the shooting of his reaction begins, and he must feel himself the object of observation, a kind of inversion. All this is broadcast by webcam. On the one hand, this is a performance in which the viewer can take part and automatically become the main character, on the other - we have staged the situation with spying, having made the underground lifestyle style accessible and fetishized as much as possible.
What girls inspire you?
I'm interested in dudes, not girls. If we are talking about a landmark, life and career, then for some reason Chloe Sevigny comes to mind. And only guys, for example, Beat Maker Beat is an incredibly cool producer. I am impressed by how he moves, what topics he touches and explores, his spirituality and depth without deliberate esotericity, namely spirituality at the level of street subculture. In general, I am inspired by many rappers, including Russians.
How has Moscow changed over the past five years?
I notice two extremes taking place with people around me: a departure to spirituality or a desire for mainstream. In general, life is complicated, Moscow has changed wildly. For me, the city, how it was before and how it is now, are two different stories. Now Moscow is a universal city, mad grandmas and the desire to show themselves. In the city, I personally do not have enough normal ground transportation. I love monorails. I would like in Berlin - a branch at the top. Not enough open spots for graffiti. The courtyards are closing: you walk between the fences, and there is no access to the space. The rarity of the prospect, or just the horizon that is just receding, and this is important.