Dubosarsky and Vinogradov on Their Cinematic Painting Project and Russian Art Scene

Vladimir Dubosarsky and Alexander Vinogradov, prominent Russian artists, discussed their collaborative practice in a 2004 interview. Their work, described as a single continuous painting project since 2001, employs a modular system of canvases that can be exhibited or sold individually. This approach allows for flexible presentation, as seen when a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was replaced with Madonna for a New York exhibition. Their art deliberately uses the accessible visual language of social realism and popular culture—featuring figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jennifer Lopez, and movie scenes—to create a universally understandable "dream land." They position this against Moscow conceptualism, aiming for art that "speaks for itself" without requiring critical context. The artists represented Russia at the 2003 Venice Biennale and have works in major institutions including Le Centre Pompidou, MAK Vienna, and The Houston Museum of Art. In 2003, they held five solo shows globally, including at New York's Deitch Gallery. They also co-founded the experimental gallery "Kubometr" in Moscow and helped organize a Festival of Contemporary Art there. Dubosarsky and Vinogradov believe Russian contemporary art's development hinges on investment, noting increased funding for the 2004 Moscow Biennale. Their process combines projected and hand-drawn imagery sourced from mass media, with creative decisions requiring mutual agreement.