CONVERSATION WITH REPIN
18 February, 2007 Redaction of magazine »Aficha« in Moscow.

In winter 2007, Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery was preparing an exhibition titled »A Thinking Realism«. Because Russian classical art is rooted in realism (a concept which has nothing to do with reality, but serves as the most representative of Russian art), we decided to invite great Russian artist, Ilya Efimovich Repin, to the next meeting with the art community. Also attending the séance was an NASA astronaut...

TEXT OF VIDEO RECORDING

AUDIENCE      Ilya Efimovich, have you heard about recent developments in contemporary art?
ILYA REPIN    I laugh.
AUDIENCE      Ilya Efimovich, are you satisfied with your monument on Bolotnaya square?
ILYA REPIN    Yes.
AUDIENCE      Ilya Efimovich, have you ever heard the name Duchamp?
ILYA REPIN    No.
AUDIENCE      Ilya Efimovich, your painting »Paris Café« is very similar to Manet’s »Music in the Tuileries« Is it directly influenced?
ILYA REPIN    No.
AUDIENCE      Ilya Efimovich, do you consider yourself a realist?
ILYA REPIN    Yes, of course.
AUDIENCE      Have you heard of video art? What do you think, is it art?
ILYA REPIN    No.
AUDIENCE      Ilya Efimovich, are you familiar with concept art?
ILYA REPIN    Yes.
AUDIENCE      Do you feel yourself to be a concept artist?
ILYA REPIN    Of course.
AUDIENCE      Ilya Efimovich, how is your personal life over there? Do you have any love affairs?
ILYA REPIN    No.
AUDIENCE      Ilya Efimovich, do you still work on art in the other world?
ILYA REPIN    Of course.
AUDIENCE      Do you need money there?
ILYA REPIN    No.
AUDIENCE      Is it possible that your soul lives in a museum? The Tretyakov Gallery?
ILYA REPIN    Yes.
...