ENGLISH SUMMARY: STEINMETZ INTERVIEW WITH LUDMILA OSTAPISHINA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF GALEREYA, THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ACADEMY OF ARTS.
In this interview, Steinmetz discusses the events that led to his solo exhibit at the Pushkin Museum, particularly his meeting in New York with the Museum Director, Ms. Irina Antonova. He elaborates on his working in series and the reason he chose nine particular series for his Moscow exhibit. He talks about his method of working—his process of selecting, from the initial numerous tiny sketches, the ones which would eventually become artworks of various sizes—some quite large. He explains why he destroys many of his works, and says that he signs his works weeks after they are completed. Then he, as he puts it, “can judge them objectively.” And, finally, he talks about the artist and the public. He says that he believes that an artist must never depend upon public tastes and trends. And that, in the end, the quality of an artwork—that which makes it remain relevant long after it was created—depends not just on the artist’s craftsmanship, or even his or her talent, but on the artist’s entire personality. Steinmetz quotes a famous artist, saying that “to create something, one must be somebody.”
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