Magical realism, mythology and literature

An interview with Wei

Hi everyone! Welcome to the first issue of #ourstudents — a series of interviews in which our students talk about themselves and their art.

Our first guest is Wei. He started making art at 16 and graduated from the Ilya Repin Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. Today he lives and works in Budapest.

What inspires you to make work?

I’m drawn to elements of magical realism, to history, mythology and literature, and to my own experiences and feelings. Very often the spark is a chance image or scene, some elaborate phantasmagoria I come across in a book or a film. I like building an atmosphere of mystery and understatement, playing with perception and reality in my work. I also draw on art history, on the art of earlier eras, on literature and on everyday life. My pieces tend to explore transformation, the process of metamorphosis and ritual, combining mystical and esoteric elements with modern technology and bringing together biological and anthropomorphic forms.

What themes do you raise in your art?

My works can include elements tied to biological and alchemical processes, exploring ideas of infinity and transcendence. I build a world where past and present, reality and dream are interwoven. I love creating a tense, enigmatic atmosphere that makes the viewer wonder about the meanings and stories behind the images. I explore the complex relationships between the body, nature and culture, often through mythological and symbolic narratives.

What do you consider your main achievement so far?

My main achievement, I think, is being able to make complex, many-layered paintings that invite viewers into rich interpretations within biological and mythological systems.

What is your mission as an artist?

I want to be loved.

Could you give three pieces of advice to artists who want to make contemporary art?

Be sincere and true to yourself. Allow yourself to explore and express deep emotional states through your art. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new approaches, materials and techniques. Pay attention to the details — they can completely change how a work is read.