10 Questions with Andrei Ruzov

For 5 years, Andrei has been struggling with depression and bipolar disorder. During this time, he has accumulated a lot of thoughts and a desire to speak out to a wide audience on the topic of mental health. He says his works and the process of creating them are his therapy at the moment; it is some sort of a diary of thoughts and reflections on topics that concern him. As an artist, he finds his main goal in talking to people who feel bad, who are not heard or do not want to be heard, who are in a state of instability, who feel lonely and anxious, or who are going through difficult therapy. He wants to convey to them the idea that they are not alone, and they are heard and understood, and their experience and pain are shared. He wants people to learn more about their mental health issues, as this is important for them and their loved ones. 

It happened so that on the path to self-recovery, Andrei found a new tool for self-expression - CG. He calls a monitor screen his canvas and the software in which he creates his works - his brushes.

@oaodrondulet

INTERVIEW

Please introduce yourself to our readers. Who are you? And what inspired you to become an artist?

Hi, my name is Andrey, and I am a CG artist. In the past, I was a UX/UI designer, and at one point, I felt the need to express my thoughts and emotions in my work. I used to do music and reflect on my life with the help of it, but since I have been traveling around the world for 2 years, I have no opportunity to do it now. At some point, I discovered CG, andnow I am fond of everything related to 3D and effects. While studying the tools to implement my ideas, I got inspiration and enthusiasm to talk about mental illnesses since I myself experienced a 5-year battle with severe depression and bipolar disorder.

Can you share how your experience with depression and bipolar disorder has influenced your artwork?

I think I felt a social responsibility to start talking about it. When I was going through the rehabilitation and treatment process, I encountered a lot of misunderstanding and a lack of empathy. Unfortunately, people do not have a basiceducation on this issue. The feeling of rejection and misunderstanding hurts people suffering from these diseases. The world makes them feel lonely and weak, and guilt grows inside them. For me, there are two main reasons to talk about it: 1) to educate people and show that this is a serious problem with serious consequences, and the same amount of attention is needed as to any other disease that requires medical intervention; 2) dialogue and reflection can unite people suffering from the diseases and destroy the feeling of loneliness and misunderstanding from the society. 

And how has your art evolved over time?

I am only at the beginning of my search. For now, I can say that my work has brought me even more ideas, as I am learning more about myself and myself.

How would you describe your creative process nowadays? Which mediums do you use, and which ones would you like to incorporate in your practice?

I think most of my search is in my mind, in my memory. I try to remember cases from my life, and I look for similar cases in society among other people. Then I transfer this to notes and adapt the idea in digital format.
I try to use all the computer software that can give the necessary results for my work. In the creation process, I use notes and software like Cinema 4D, Daz 3D, Redshift, Figma, and Adobe. I would like to do more abstract works in the future, and Houdini can help me with this.

What led you to start using CG as a medium, and how has it changed your approach to art?

I am a designer, and for 7 years, I have been designing interfaces. I have always admired people who do incredible things in the CGI industry. At first, I could not even imagine that, in addition to cinema and advertising, you could move towards art with the help of graphics. However, the more I researched and began to follow different artists, the larger became my desire to start doing this.

How does creating art serve as a therapeutic process for you?

There are people who write notes in a diary every day. Myself, I transfer everything to a visual medium and try to adapt it for a wider audience. It helps me to finally consolidate the life experience I learned and let it go. With my works, I put an end to these chapters. But at the same time, I am ready to face it again and relive it.

You aim to reach people who feel unheard or isolated. How do you convey this message visually in your work?

Yes, that's my main goal. I wanted this for myself and now I have the opportunity to make it happen for others. Why not. I try to find simple, understandable metaphors that would not directly describe my idea. Abstraction or plot are the two main ways to implement my ideas.

What do you hope people struggling with mental health issues gain from engaging with your art?

Understanding that they are not alone in this world. There are people who are ready to support, listen, and help. It seems to me that there are many initiatives in the world aimed at helping those who suffer from mental illnesses now. This is cool, and I want to be part of this society.

Are there any specific artists or artistic movements that have influenced your work?

Many artists have influenced my desire to create. Probably, I was greatly impressed by the works of Vladimir Wies and Matt Mahurin.

And lastly, what are your plans for the future? How do you see your work evolving in the coming years?

I would like to make a large series of works and dedicate it to the topic of isolation in depression. I would like to conduct more research and collect various statistics around the world in order to acquaint people with these statistics through my art. I want to participate in exhibitions actively. I want to take part in charity and fundraising for various organizations that help people in difficult times to find psychological help.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.