Russia: Putin, politics, propaganda?
Take a look at the other side: Brave young people, avant-garde artists, positive innovators.
This new Russia is Russian artist Eva Slovak.
Smart, bold and open: Russian artist Eva’s work seems to be innocent at first. But when you take a second look, you detect the clarified view of a bright mind on this world.
This contrast between fairy tale style and rational documentary work show what a great photo-magician Eva is.
And if you read what she says, you know that there is a great future coming up for Russia.
You are a super young and super talented Russian artist, how did you get into photography?
Eva: I don’t think that I’m too young and so talented.
There are a lot of younger and more talented photographers around me.
To be honest, I always go with the flow and do what I like. One day I picked up a camera, took some photos and realised that I like this.
And over the years it has become my passion.
The women you photograph look a lot like you, have you thought about maybe trying to catch a part of yourself?
E: That’s true. I often hear that I have one type of model which I prefer to shoot. And during the pandemic and lockdown I have started to look at myself as a model too.
Actually it has even helped me to deal with my insecurities. I love myself and my body more than ever before.
What should we know about the young Moscow youth?
E: Before I was visiting Berlin last spring, all my friends told me that Berlin is like Moscow, but better. I spent one month there and met different, but amazing people.
It was an inspiring adventure.
Now, when I’m in Moscow, I look at the youth around me and see the same freedom in their minds, their desire to live in the moment, their desire to create, their desire to be unique and be open minded at the same time.
I agree with the opinion that young people in Moscow and in Berlin are pretty similar.
Although you don’t photograph naked women, your photos are very sensual.
What is eroticism for you?
E: I had been quite modest as a person and as a creator for a long time.
Film photos had helped me to discover sensuality in myself.
I found out that there is no need to be naked for eroticism. It’s more about sense, feelings, the model’s glance, light and so on.
If a person can find eroticism in themself, they can show eroticism in their own way with or without clothes.
From the eyes of a Berlin woman: Russian society is a very strong patriarchal society.
What would you recommend to a young woman who, like you, wants to follow her own path?
E: Don’t listen to society, don’t listen to the crowd.
There is only one true voice – the voice of your heart.
You have to be around your close friends and lovers, who are not going to judge you, but only support and love you.
It works not only for young women, but for boys too. We are all human beings in the beginning.
What or who has inspired you in your work as an artist?
E: I have to say that I have one best friend in my life.
She is an artist too, but what I value most in her is her way of acceptance and understanding.
She supports me a lot, she criticizes me too, but after all I want to be better and improve myself.
I can’t deny that my own taste has changed under her influence in a good way.
What 3 questions should we ask you, that you will never give us an answer to, in order to know the real Russian artist Eva Slovak?
E: I can’t imagine such questions. I want to give you every answer, even the most provocative and personal ones.
In conclusion, there are no secrets.
I can confess about my fears, cheating and sexual fantasies. I am not ashamed of them, because I know that I’m human – like everybody else.
Which female Russian artist from Moscow should we definitely know?
I think that everyone should know about Elizaveta Porodina.
In my opinion, she is the most brilliant and extraordinary artist.
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