Joanna Vickery "Frozen dreams. Contemporary art of Russia "

[Dogel]

In London, published the book "Frozen dreams. Contemporary art of Russia. " It is dedicated to our artists, art critics, gallery owners and. The author of the monograph, head of Sotheby's Russian Art Joanna Vickery, responded to questions from "Izvestia".
- Why did you decide to publish the book "Frozen Dreams"? Who takes the West interested in our contemporary art?
- Russian art and literature have formed a global culture. They changed our way of thinking. So people have a natural interest in what makes Russian artists today. Unfortunately, in English this is not enough information, especially for the general public. This book fills this void.
- What explains the choice of 90 names of Russian artists, gallery owners and curators, you have included your monograph?
In the book there is a few famous names - such as Mikhail Shemyakin.
- There will always argue about which artists to include in such a small group. And it's wonderful. I love to stimulate such debate. Career artists go through different stages and get different estimates in their lifetime and afterward. And the tastes of the public may differ from the estimates of art historians and critics. I wanted to show contemporary Russian art in all its diversity.
- At one time in Paris a lot of fuss about the picture "Kissing Policemen" group "Blue Noses". You put in your book work "Kissing Ballerina" by the same authors.
- Russian Ballet is one of the most important articles of cultural imports from Russia. Therefore, for a Western audience, they are more interesting than the kissing policemen.
- In the final year of Sotheby's Russian art gain by selling almost $ 100 million. You have sold more than
any other auction house.
- Since 2008, the Russian art market has stabilized in the West. It inspires confidence. This year, as compared to 2010 m, with sales up 15%. However, customers have become more picky and their tastes have changed.
- Russian customers are still conservative? The greatest demand continues to enjoy our classics - Aivazovsky, Shishkin, Levitan?
- One after another wave of interest, and at a London auction at Sotheby's in November, sold well Russian artists of the XIX century. But the New York auction a few weeks earlier picture of Natalia Goncharova, "Moscow Street" was bought by the Russian collector for $ 6 million
- Why Western collectors do not buy Russian paintings? Disadvantageous from an investment point of view?
- They buy such artists as Kandinsky, Malevich, Soutine, which are well known in the West. But on the other hand, they do not understand how neo-Alexander Yakovlev and Basil Shukhaiev fit into the Western modernist canon. Therefore, they are to them is not particularly straight. In Russia, over the past decade, these artists have been reassessed. It's time to show them actively in the West.
- Our collectors are moving to Western art. Who then will buy domestic masterpieces?
- For about 10 years ago, Russians usually buy only Russian art, but not for long. Today, it is not. I see that Russian collectors buy both Western and Russian art.
- Recently, American died Norton Dodge. Its unique collection contained more than 20 thousand paintings and other works
Russian art. You do not negotiate with his successors?
- Much of the collection was transferred to Norton Dodge Zimmerly Museum at Rutgers University. It is the largest collection of Russian contemporary art outside of Russia. It is invaluable for students and for anyone who is interested in them. The focus of the collection is made for 60 - x - the end of 80 - ies. But now the museum acquired and later stuff.
- In Russia, did not return the Soviet order that had been smuggled out of Moscow and a few years ago removed from the
your auction?
- We are waiting for the outcome of the dispute between the Russian authorities and the owner of the orders. They still kept in a safe place.

can someone can tell me about the book .... thank you ...