Stella Kesaeva: "It is hard, but interesting"

[SergeiSK]

Stella Kesaeva this year was awarded the "Innovation" for the support of modern art - strange that gosinstitutsii not mentioned it earlier work.

Stella Kesaeva habit called galeristkoy, although she closed the gallery three years ago and since then it can in good conscience be called a patron. Its foundation is active in the field of contemporary art and supports projects and serious artists, not commercial. Our conversation began with a scandal - the young man drove a jeep into the hall fund during the vernissage.

- You sued the ram jeep showroom stock. And there are people who consider it an act of artistic action.
- Have, because it is not modern art, and an attempt at people. A few minutes before the collision there children were running around the sculptures Kuzkina. I do not understand those who justify it. I understand conceptualism, the artists Albert, monastic, Joseph Kosuth. And this hooliganism. An artist can make fun of themselves as anything but over men.
- At the last Venice Biennale your fund took an active part. If you have appointed curator of the Russian Pavilion, what would you have done there?
- I must say - I am not the curator, I am the organizer. I can with their knowledge and capabilities to organize a good show. I know how to do it: some of the artist to be invited, curator to choose. I have in fact no material interest, only a desire to represent Russia at the highest level. I would gladly agreed to meet at our booth and have invested their money, and we all - all our fund - would work very serious. But not for me to decide.
- But if you decide, then who the artists were called?
- This should be a show of one, maximum of two artists who have something mean and lived life to modern art.
- So this is a mature artist, and youth to promote?
- There are so many artists, it is difficult to find among them someone standing, capable of hitting. I looked around and I can not find - so much of a commercial, everything has been done once, long ago, many repeat the well-known .
- In 2004, you organized an exhibition Kabakov at the Hermitage. Daria Zhukova opened a "Garage" a retrospective of the same artist. Some believe that it is him and returned him to Russia. Not hurt?
- Do not pity me then was the cry of the soul. When I first saw the work of Ilya Kabakov, they made me an extraordinary impression, more nostalgic. He is a master Going deep into the soul, it turns out it's great. Apparently, from the heart goes, and so the result is brilliant. And when I saw him, I thought, why he exhibited around the world, but not in Russia, and he - our history, we must return. It was so interesting to talk to him - not about business, is engaged in Emilia (wife Kabakov. - "Vedomosti"), and about art. He speaks very quietly and I listened to every word and was in ecstasy from him in a whisper, not a single word is missed. Great artist.
- Who else impressed you?
- Andrew Monastery, of course. In his works there is nothing beautiful, they are even ugly to someone may seem, but what is the philosophy behind them! The monastery is also a genius, but in a different direction, more philosophical. And when I looked at his work, I read a book about the "collective action", it was struck - the country stood in queues, but they feature shares held, thought about life, politics, philosophy. Only the Soviet people would understand them until the end.
- But now, too, have a poor life, non-commercial art.
- Are different now - and the art of another. Previously, the artists did much of the soul, and now everyone thinks to have been made to sell, how success will be the content of the work they are not interested. And I have an interest in art comes from the depths of my soul, and there is nothing here pompous , far-fetched. I find it interesting, difficult, but interesting.
- You became a non-profit foundation, because they do not have coped with commerce?
- I know, not the seller, I do not know how. I want to make our art world knew that he understood how we lived behind the Iron Curtain. And I have an intuition for museum work, which will go down in history, will be valued in terms of content - historical, political. This museum work, such no-one else will do, because while not happen again.
- And realized your goal - to establish a museum of modern art on the basis of your collection?
- To promote, I hope very much that in 2013 it will be. But for now I'm afraid to talk about it.
- In your fund held poetry readings, the poets as interesting as the artists?
- Yes, I am therefore of interest. But the idea was this: We once sat here a long time with Rubinstein, Lev Semenovich, and he said that there were times when artists and poets gathered, read poems and talked philosophy. In the studio Kabakov, in communal apartments, sat on the floor, old mattresses, and so it was interesting. I say, let's do so. All we had each artist - and a poet, and writer, and critic. Same Nikita Alexeev or Pepperstein. And I think that's great: This exhibition, and around conversations.
- I saw it once, as you have met poets and artists - almost came to blows.
- And in another not. Truth is born in the debate.

Interview Olga Kabanova
("Vedomosti, 22.06.2010, 112 (2630))

[Vladimir]

[SergeiSK]

[Vladimir]

Сообщение от SergeiSK

- So this is a mature artist, and young people move?
- There are so many artists, it is difficult to find among them someone standing, capable of hitting. I looked around and I can not find - so much of a commercial, everything has been done once, long ago, many repeat the well-known.

It is hard and difficult. It was always difficult. Kuzkina with bread sculptures showed recently - even without the resonance of the "jeep-performance.

[Georgi Mikhailov]

[Vladimir]