Nikita Volkov captured my studio work process in this video during the frosty winter of 2021 at my Moscow studio, situated across from the Jewish Museum of Tolerance.
Throughout the shoot, I was wearing headphones to help me transition into a creative mindset. Although I may have turned off the music during the process, it served as a helpful trigger to get started. Nikita and I did not delve into the concept in great detail; we agreed that I would paint as usual, while he filmed without any interruptions. That's precisely what happened. Unlike me, he had a quiet studio to work in.
After the shoot, Nikita asked me about the music I was listening to on my headphones, and I told him it was Nils Frahm, performing at the jazz festival in Montreux. That was all. A few days later, Nikita sent me the video of the process with that music, and I appreciate how he captured the atmosphere of the studio work, including the sunlight streaming through the windows and the freezing weather. He also noticed the straight lines in my paintings, resembling tram tracks, with a tram visible in the background. The snow, the sound of wheels, the crackling of the air, and the paint on the canvas all come together beautifully in this video.
Date: February 2021
Filmmaker: Nikita Volkov