Makhmut Gasimov about Jock Sturges: ‘It is aimed at twits. Trash is entering the arts’
Famous Russian artist Makhmut Gasimov tells about the closure of Sturges’ scandalous exhibition in Moscow
A scandal around the exhibition of an American photo photographer Jock Sturges, which opened in Moscow, has shocked the media space of our country in recent days. Ombudsman for children, senators, deputies and different social activists found elements of child pornography and paedophilia in it and asked to close it. At the same time the exhibition found supporters. However, the exhibition that was open for more than a week was closed in the end. A correspondent of Realnoe Vremya talked to a famous Russian sculptor, a member of the Union of Russian Artists, the International Association of Art, honourable artist of Tatarstan Makhmut Gasimov about the headline-making exhibition.
'It is aimed at twits'
Mr Gasimov, Jock Sturges' exhibition No Embarrassment closed in Moscow. You are a well-known artist and sculptor in our country. Have you ever seen the works of the American photographer?
I've seen them for the first time. And I don't think they are works. I am an opponent of this photographer. Unfortunately, now artists have spread like stylists. There was a hairdresser in the old days – who was either good or bad at it. Now everything is changing. I have to say we are almost the same age. If I had a camera and told that all the photos I took were a piece of art, borders and limits will be unclear. It is aimed at twits. It is my opinion.
Is there any border between art and moral, between talent and mediocrity?
A famous actress told what a talent was, you know: it either exists or it doesn't. It is like a mole. Trash is entering the arts, sorry for the expression. All people want to become geniuses of art. I have a negative attitude towards it all. Let them gather communities. These dog lovers have spread, poop lovers have spread. You name it, we have got it now.
In your opinion, is this scandal an element of anyone's PR?
I don't know how to call it. It is cheap PR.
'I've seen the works for the first time. And I don't think they are works. I am an opponent of this photographer. Unfortunately, now artists have spread like stylists.' Photo: 24science.ru
Foam on the crest of the wave
What do you think nude photos?
I'm afraid to say to him speak bluntly. Let's put it mildly: I have a negative attitude.
As a sculptor and artist, have you ever created sculptures of nude people?
I have, of course.
Did not any moral advocate criticised you?
Do you know what a deep question you are raising? All in all, I am an artist of an academic school, an artist of classical education. Although I don't deny some modern sculptors like Ernst Neizvestny or their new non-standard approaches to the issue, to the idea. They are clear enough for me as an artist. And millions of branches are not my cup of tea. There is always foam on the crest of the wave. Here it is foam on the crest of the wave.
Now everything changed somehow because of these transformations and –isms. How can I explain it? Newton's law is eternal, in spite of the things that happened and a great number of pseudoscientific directions that appeared later. It is a very delicate problem. Foundations are shattered in different ways. It is the problem. It can't be solved in one way only.
I have a suspicion that not only the very photographer who decided to demonstrate it is guilty. He just wanted to show his rich material he collected without a hidden agenda. Some helps were likely to be here. They decided to earn on it or get PR. It is a sly scheme. For example, I don't approve such PR for my sculpture.
'I have a suspicion not only the very photographer is guilty who decided to demonstrate it. He just wanted to show his rich material he collected without a hidden agenda. Some helps were likely to be here. They decided to earn on it or get PR.' Photo: vesti.ru
'Now it is time of tastelessness'
Is there any cultural immune system against this kind of art?
Art is an elastic term. During the Soviet era, for example, religion was excluded from life. Some power comes sooner or later. It propagandises something; if it deserves living, it will remain despite everything. Now it is time of tastelessness. Just put an example of our pop culture. During the Soviet era, which is cursed now, there were masterpieces in music. What is happening now? All these stars have a pub level, compared to the Soviet era, they are cheap. But they are superstars now!
By the way, Rustam Minnikhanov has expressed the same idea recently: it is unclear what they sing and wear and how they move.
Sure. Even those people who are not musicians, composers, who have normal hearing are able to separate the wheat from the chaff.
What will happen to the Russian or Tatar art in general? Will it develop? Or will it fall?
Don't lump everything together. The Tatar art, first of all, is supposed to have Islamic roots. Muslims can't depict a person at all. But we are children of the Soviet era, of the past. This is why, personally, I am a chip of the past era, I have conserved my beliefs. The time will show what happens to art.
Thank you for the answers.