Interview with Andrey SHCH

q)Please introduce yourself.

a)Andrey Shch – an ingenious and contradictory creative person.

q) Where do you live and work?

a)I’m residing in Kiev, the hero-city and the capital of Ukraine not far from 

London, but working in different places scattered around our planet. Though I 

believe I would find work on Mars as well, but its far way to go. Though I wish I 

could work there – Mars is said to be more spacious.

q) How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?

a)I could describe it as the ultimate in creativity and imagination based on the 

best graphic traditions of the past and present time – but I won’t. It is like 

describing an elephant: in which light should one describe it and is it really 

necessary?

I want those who see my works to decide whether it is graphics, calligraphy or 

just music transformed into motion. I leave this right to them. Let arts experts 

describe my creative work, while I’ll be just drawing since everyone should do his 

own work – a favorite one.

q) How did you start in the arts? How/when did you realize you were an artist?

a)I still have not realized I’m an artist. You don’t wake up one morning and tell 

yourself that you’ll be an artist ever after – this doesn’t happen so. An artist 

needs to work for about 30 years to be recognized by people, so I’m not pressed by 

time. I cannot be unbiased in this decision; it is like choosing whether you’re 

handsome or smart.

And then perhaps I’m a poet? What kind of poetry my work is then?

I have been head over ears into the arts since I was born, from the very first 

second and I hope I’ll be there ever after.

q) What are your favorite art materials and why?

a)It is like telling someone you love her: what are you favorite words? All words 

you know are the rights ones for expressing your emotions, whereupon they are 

different for different times of the day. Likewise fingers: we use all of them 

without preferring only one. Thus all materials available in the nature that I 

know of are my favorite.

q) What/who influences you most?

a)I feel strong influence of the thorny Northern wind, as well as influence of the 

Sun. Though the most appropriate working conditions for me are cold and high 

humidity that are typical for Scandinavia. The worse working conditions are, the 

better is the result. But the most influence is made on me by the beauty of my 

muse, by her piercing hazel glance, her soulful icy breath and her always being 

there when I need her support.

q) Describe a typical day of art making for you.

a)I put on white garment, have a bathe in Ganges to wash out human sins and light 

santalaceous incense sticks. Then I take a flight to the nearest monastery in 

Tokio, then wend my way to Dalai Lama for benediction and then to Mufti and 

Ayatollah – only afterwards I start working. That is the ordinary day complemented 

with jactation from one to another saint and that is the day devoted only to 

creative work.

q) Do you have goals, specific things you want to achieve with your art or in your career as an artist?

a)I wish I could fresco the Sistine Chapel in Vatican, as Michenangelo 

did. Or something of the same significance to the mankind.

q) What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?

a)Those who deal with real creative work, sincere and open as a big heart.

q) How long does it typically take you to finish a piece?

a)I'm not used to record time as a sportsman and aspire for new world records. The 

faster - the better is not a principle I adhere to. Though I try to draw fast in 

order to have more time for life. I do draw fast but I can also nurture ideas for 

months and years. Ideas can be developed and modified for a long time and then be 

implemented in seconds. Fast and clear. But generally I work beyond the frames of 

time and space.

q) Do you enjoy selling your pieces, or are you emotionally attached to them?

a)Any work should be evaluated – either materially and verbally, by means of 

criticism. The most important is to get feedback which is always useful for 

meeting new challenges.

I keep all the artworks that are dear and emotionally valuable to me at home – 

they are not for sale. They are like relatives, you cannot sell them.

q) Is music important to you? If so, what are some things you're listening to now?

a)Music is like a battery that I can use any moment, like a jolt of fresh air. Music 

is something you can listen to for eternity. Krishna Das - Devi Puja, Arto 

Tuncboyajan - April 24, Amina – Blaskjar,Jagjit & Chitra Singh – Shlokas, Franz 

Schubert, Brahms, Gonzales – Dot.

q) Books?

a)I prefer beautiful and smart ladies!

q) What theories or beliefs do you have regarding creativity or the creative 

process?

a)Simple ones. Do it if you can, +if you cannot – do it anyway!

q) What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing) when you're not creating?

a)Life is art in itself. To produce art works means to live and breathe.

How can a human being live without breathing and creating? It is a permanent 

state. That is why I find it difficult to define when I’m creating and when I’m 

not – this is something I’m always into.

q) Do you have any projects or shows coming up that you are particularly excited 

about?

a)Each project is an exciting process for me and I invest more than a part of me in 

each of them. Each project that is coming up makes me shiver with excitement.

q) Do you follow contemporary art scenes? If so, how? What websites, magazines, 

galleries do you prefer?

a)I try to be relaxed as regards following contemporary art scenes. Trying to trace 

all the changes and tendecies at all TV channels existing in the world is tiresome 

and absurd. Moreover, would it have sence? It takes time and I don’t see the point 

– let the others follow me up, that would have more sence.

- q) Ask yourself a question you'd like to answer, and answer it.

a)

- Why?

- Because!

q) Any advice for aspiring artists?

a)Try first and foremost not to lie to yourselves and those who surround you.

q) Where can we see more of your work online?

a)Type in my name in Google search or any other search engine. There are many web-

sites where you can find my artworks and I don’t remember all of them. Search and 

enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shch_andrey/

http://www.behance.net/shchandrey