The day before, Ivan returned from Canada, where he had lived for more than a year. He studied English, traveled, drew inspiration, and wrote sketches. From another continent, the artist returned with a substantial collection of paintings and ideas. Today, he kindly agreed to share his impressions of the fruitful trip and talk about his creativity. The conversation took place in a cozy studio.
- Ivan, what do such trips give to creative people?
- I just started to look at creativity a bit differently. During my time in Canada, I developed my skills technically and improved my craft. There, the nature is undoubtedly very beautiful, but I didn't feel as comfortable as I do at home. I like Kyrgyzstan much more. Having been on another continent, I concluded that I am a patriot. Now I will only travel for work. Everywhere has its own beauties; here the mountains impress, while there the forests inspire. I created many sketches, most of which I gave away to friends and students with whom I studied English. The guys took the paintings all over the world. Some of the works were sold.
- Obviously, your talent as an artist was noticed by those around you since childhood?
- In fact, I studied "under duress." I was mostly occupied with music... To be honest, I had poor grades in school; I slept in class and drew more. My father was an artist, so I inherited a lot. Teachers never stopped telling my parents that when explaining topics, I constantly looked out the window and sat with a thoughtful expression. Then I entered an art school and later an art college. There, I made interesting acquaintances, for example, with the now-famous musician Vyacheslav Golopolosov; I managed to interest him in music. By the way, after communicating with me, he entered a music college. But when my rock projects ceased to exist due to various circumstances, I entered graduate school. It was there that I became properly interested in painting.
- As far as I know, you have no musical education, but that did not prevent you from delighting domestic rock music lovers for many years. How did it happen that you found yourself on stage at one point?
- I just really wanted it. My parents bought me a guitar, and I was always playing something. At 16, I wrote my first songs and then formed a band with friends from college. At that time, we were not musicians; it all happened spontaneously. We performed at a festival in the Kyrgyz Drama Theater, and I must admit, it was quite bad. Unfortunately, a little later the band broke up. I was left alone and just started going to rehearsals at "Ultra Sound" and played guitar. One day, some guys came and suggested we try playing together, and that's how "Colorful Dreams" came to be, which was on the stage of domestic rock clubs for five years.
- Are you currently writing songs?
- No, but I think I will return to it. I haven't picked up the guitar in a long time. When I felt lonely in Canada, I started playing and singing again. During my creative activity, about nine compositions were recorded, and more than 30 original songs were performed at concerts. But there were many songs that we never performed.
- Then, perhaps, it is worth presenting them to the audience?
- In fact, the songs I wrote once are a thing of the past. And when I start listening to what I composed back then, a lot seems amusing to me. I have matured. I always tried to make my compositions meaningful, but they were created at the level of my consciousness at that time. When I have something that I can truly show to listeners, I will definitely present it. I would like to write a song that allows for some reflection, rather than just abstract impressions. I really want the listener to think about something serious. I have a great desire to create a band again, but in order to appear on stage again, I need to create a certain repertoire of new compositions.
- How did you go about creating songs? What came first, the melody or the lyrics?
- Both at the same time. I just pick up the guitar and start strumming chords; individual sketches appear, and then words come. At such moments, I don't even know what the song will be about. The development happens in the process.
- It is said that a music video for your song was presented at the "Venice Film Festival"?
- Yes, and I would like to note that the talented director Roman Moskalev created it from photographs in just one night. Out of several thousand, our clip made it into the 11 best works included in the catalog. The video was dedicated to summer and relaxation at Lake Issyk-Kul.
- Ivan, in what direction do you paint?
- Absolute naturalism. Until recently, it was just a honing of skills and understanding of what painting is. You know, during my studies at college and the academy, I didn't extract anything for myself. Although I always received high marks for my diploma works. I just maintained my ability to draw and handle paints during the learning process. I began to study the basics of painting only in graduate school, although I already had certain skills. Years passed, I stopped thinking like a student, and I developed creative views. I got tired of doing what I was doing before. I have a desire to search for myself in other genres; perhaps this will be nature—portraits, models. But it won't look so naturalistic; now I need to learn to express my perspective in painting. I have participated in various republican exhibitions, and at the moment, I would like to accumulate a certain number of works and open my personal exhibition—this will be a new stage in my creativity. Currently, I am also engaged in teaching and instructing students in what I know. I enjoy spending time on this work. I really want to realize myself in both music and painting. Now I am home in Kyrgyzstan; I feel very comfortable, and I am starting to create.
At present, Ivan is once again getting used to life in his hometown; in his studio, a prepared easel with a canvas stands prominently, and nearby is an acoustic guitar. This means that perhaps in the near future we will witness the first personal exhibition of the artist and the emergence of a new rock band that will perform wonderful, profound compositions.
