Andrey Bartenev. Photo © Robert Felgentreu
For the Berlin Fashion Film Festival Awards and aftershow, guests were wowed by Russian performance/installation artist Andrey Bartenev. The ceremony gave out awards in categories such as Best Idea (awarded to that infamous “First Kiss” film by Tatia Palieva) and Best Major Brand Film (which went to “Made from Cool”, by Martin Werner & co, starring Christopher Walken).
But there was more in store, a sensory overload of colours and shapes from Bartenev’s installation. Crazy, out of control and totally joyous, “The Happy Bubbles of Hope” lived up to its name. Sleek met the calm yet busy artist right before the show, between performers and assistants in the outside backstage area of the beautiful Ehemaliges Stummfilmkino Delphi, a fantastic location that fits the extravagant artist.
Sleek: How are you feeling about your performance this evening?
Andrey Bartenev: It’s just a really tiny space. I don’t know which way it should be, when everyone is dressed up on such a tiny space. We would like to show it in some big form. This is the conflict.
Have you seen anything else at Mercedes-Benz Berlin Fashion Week?
No, because I just arrived for this performance. So I haven’t been around and I don’t know what it looks like. I don’t know what any collections look like. I only know this backyard here with this beautiful old cinema were Marlene Dietrich used to perform many years ago. And the road here – that’s all I know!
Photo © Robert Felgentreu
Do you have an interest in fashion?
I like it very much. I wear clothes from many famous designers like Vivienne Westwood and Dolce & Gabbana. But I wear this more for workshops.
Is there a person who you’d like to wear one of your colourful creations?
Mice.!They can just eat everything and create abstract dust. That’s exactly what I would like to have. Because it’s much better for nature.
Do you produce art continuously, or do you take breaks?
You know it’s like breathing [breathes in]. And this is when you do nothing [breathes out and claps his hands].
We’re here at the Berlin Fashion Film Festival – what’s your favourite film?
Yves Saint Laurent is a nice film, very good and beautiful music, very sad songs. Very good movie about fashion.
Are there any rituals in your projects? Things that are similar from project to project?
Yes! Luggage. I needed 12 or 17 suitcases for this project.
Do you have any sketchbooks?
I have many sketchbooks! Million of sketchbooks! Now I’m invited to paint big canvases in New York. From Berlin I fly to Monte Carlo, From Monte Carlo to Madrid from there to New York. And I have huge, massive sketches with me. 20 kilos of sketchbooks! I have all sizes, though. Small size, big size. Brown paper, white paper. It doesn’t matter.
Interview by Elisa Schmitz
Read more about the Berlin Fashion Film Festival