Nowadays humans are creative like never before, especially when choosing materials. There are those who draw with edible substances (for example, chocolate or fruit jam) – such paintings please both eyes and nose (with pleasant scents). There are those who use their own or animal blood – sounds strange and disgusting but connoisseurs of such experiments can also be found among us.

I think it’s stupid to hang a picture at home just because it harmonizes with furniture or helps to hide a hole in wallpapers. I believe that each work of art is full of energy. A stone or a piece of canvas become animate when human hands touch them and begin to imagine, depict, mold, change… So, if a picture is not printed, if it is a hand-made drawing, it can influence us. It doesn’t matter if the picture is big or small, prim or funny – we should keep it nearby only if it helps us feel better and fills our hearts with joy and mind – with pleasant memories.

As for me, I never buy pictures. I often get them as presents and, though my flat is very small, I always find place for them. Then I look at the drawings and remember people who gave them to me. Luckily, my relatives and friends know what I’m fond of and their presents are always appropriate.

Of course, there are painting styles that are difficult to comprehend. For example, surrealism, the followers of which claim that a person becomes himself or herself only when mind is switched off. With such a belief they draw enigmatic pictures that are so complicated that one can’t decide at once: is it a human or an animal, how many objects are there, why are unsuitable things drawn together, why are the dimensions distorted? I stay indifferent to such paintings. I know that there are works that are famous all around the world, I have a friend who is a crazy fan of Salvador Dali (A Genius of Surrealism) but I can’t accept this style. I feel as if the artist wanted to mock at others and that’s why drew a picture that only he can construe properly.

About “Black Square”… They say the strokes of paint-brush are unique on this picture and that’s why EVERYBODY sees something different between them. I can hardly believe it’s true but I’m dreaming of having a look at this “dark riddle”.

I would buy animal drawings only if I were a very rich person and visited a charitable auction.

Still I think art was invented first of all to delight and agitate us. Little children who hardly know any names of famous painters come to galleries and look at the pictures they like with interest and say “That’s beautiful” or “That’s strange”. Even if we are not able to explain the meaning of the picture that’s in front of us, we can express our general attitude to it. I’m sure if a person (who knows nothing about art) sees a picture and feels discomfort and repugnancy, he or she won’t change his or her mind after a detailed explanation of a museum guide. And if a person sees a beautiful picture and gets interested in it, he or she will search for its description and ask questions.

I think it’s not bad to be ignorant in terms of art and acknowledge this. But it’s irritating when somebody pretends to be an art expert but can’t distinguish between romanticism and realism.

For rich people art is becoming a good area for financial investment. They buy famous paintings and keep them at home as symbols of their power and authority. I think it’s not good because eternal art treasures should be available for everybody. If a person has a lot of money, he or she can help existing public galleries or build new ones and hang bought artifacts there.