Vladimir Kortikov

Year of birth: 1985.
Your education:
(1) Moscow state university of geodesy and cartography (it-specialist).
(2) Kutafin Moscow state law university (lawyer).
Describe your art in three words: The search for balance between figurative and abstract art.
Your discipline: I specialized in portrait painting, but now I am experimenting with genres to find my style.

Can you describe the inspiration behind your painting “Alice”? What made you choose this particular scene from “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”?

My inspiration comes from my subconscious, which unexpectedly gives me new images at any moment. Therefore, when I started working on the painting, I didn’t set out to depict a scene from Lewis Carroll’s work. It emerged on its own.

First, the image of a girl falling into the void came to mind, and I began to think about how to visualize and transfer it onto the canvas.

The character of Alice fit best to explain to myself what I had envisioned.

Your artwork combines painting and calligraphy. How do you approach blending these two art forms, and why did you feel it was important for this piece?

I find modern calligraphy very interesting as an art form. It has gone through the same developmental journey as painting: from the idea of accurately conveying and preserving information to the concept of expressing images and meanings through the geometry of lettering.

Therefore, I believe that the use of calligraphy in painting allows for the painting to be imbued with additional meaning and to more fully reveal the artist’s idea.

The inscriptions in my work serve several purposes. First, they encircle Alice, creating a vortex effect to make her fall more realistic. Second, the lines serve to animate the character, rushing past like thoughts in her head. Third, they add intrigue, making the viewer wonder, “What is actually written there? What is the artist trying to say with these quotes?”

Vladimir Kortikov | Alice

What challenges did you face while creating “Alice,” especially in balancing the figure of Alice with the calligraphic elements?

You’re right, finding that balance was indeed a difficult task. I had to seek compromises not only in the composition but also with myself.

I was very inspired by Pokras Lampas’ works and wanted to create something similar. But in the end, I concluded that his style in its pure form wouldn’t be artistically justified for my idea. The painted part of the picture would have been overshadowed by the bright and original calligraphy, and in the end, it would have simply turned into a portrait of a girl surrounded by text.

The falling Alice is a powerful image. How do you interpret the symbolism of the fall in your painting?

I want each person to decide for themselves what it might mean. But for me personally, Alice’s fall symbolizes our contemporary, who has had the ground pulled out from under them by the upheavals of recent years. These events cannot be resisted, and one cannot run away from them. All that remains is to fall and wonder when, or if, they will hit rock bottom.

That’s why one of the quotes I chose was “Curiouser and curiouser!” — has everything that could have happened already occurred, or is there more to come?

How has your experience as an amateur painter and your training in the studio of Evgeniy Ponomarenko influenced your artistic development?

My painting practice helped me develop my imaginative thinking, view art through the professional eyes of a painter, and better understand myself.

For example, in school, I enjoyed studying human anatomy and thought that with such interest, I should go into medical school, which I ultimately didn’t do, and I regretted it for a long time.

But now I realize that anatomy interested me not as a doctor, but as an artist, as it’s knowledge necessary for giving the character physiological accuracy.

You also work as a lawyer. How do you balance your legal career with your passion for art? Does your legal profession influence your creative process in any way?

For a long time, painting was just a hobby and art therapy for me. My job is associated with a high level of stress, and working in the studio helped me release emotional tension. But recently, I decided to pursue a slash career, combining it with legal practice.

On the one hand, in such a situation, I cannot fully dedicate myself to painting. But on the other hand, I don’t depend on the sale of my works, so I can afford to paint what I want and when I feel inspired.

As someone learning painting, what advice would you give to other amateur artists who are looking to grow in their creative journey?

Try different directions, don’t be afraid to experiment, and don’t undervalue your work.

I want to emphasize that I am 38, almost 40. For many people, especially in Russia, this is a critical age when they are no longer willing to learn something new or especially to change their field of activity.

With my example, I want to prove that this is not the case. We create our own limitations. Just remember what you dreamed of before, what you wanted to learn, who you wanted to become.

Don’t be afraid to act — fear living a life where you haven’t realized yourself.