Multimedia artist Vladislav Markov (b. 1993) doesn’t transform halfway. The artist had his first exhibition”eight feet underwith New York Gallery Management last fall and transformed the downtown gallery’s exhibition space into a gray utilitarian box, covering the walls with pegboard and the floors with gray carpeting. For the artist, this decidedly mundane setting evoked the concrete architecture of his post-Soviet childhood and served as a singularly impersonal background for his paintings and sculptures which, through his use of scanners, 3D printers and imaging technologies , suggest the detached aura of hospitals, medical laboratories and offices.
Vladislav Markov, 2023. Photo: Inna Svyatsky.
Markov runs a studio in a stripped-down East Williamsburg building that may lack the intricacies of decent insulation. But the price is right and big enough to house his collection of 3D printers. In nearly eight years in space, Markov has carved out a surprisingly welcoming studio in the building. At present, Markov is busy preparing new works for an installation at NADA House on New York’s Governor’s Island in September. He recently gave us a glimpse of his studio, where he spends days with his dog and his beloved Nespresso machine.
In the East Williamsburg studio of Vladislav Markov. Photo: Inna Svyatsky.
Tell us about your studio. Where is it, how did you find it, what type of space is it, etc. ?
My studio is in East Williamsburg. I’ve been turning it on and off for about eight years now…it had sat empty while I was at Cornell University. My landlord loves me very much, so I was able to get it back when I got back to New York. The space has a 1960s Tribeca vibe – bad electricity, no air circulation, and no insulation – but it’s cheap so I can’t complain too much. I found the space on Craigslist and there wasn’t even a picture…just the size and price.
How many hours do you typically spend in the studio, what time of day do you feel most productive, and what activities take up the majority of that time?
About 6-8 hours a day. I tend to do things physically in the morning and later in the evening. The day is used to obtain equipment and work in front of a screen. But if I have a deadline I’m here for a few days without leaving.
In the East Williamsburg studio of Vladislav Markov. Photo: Inna Svyatsky.
What’s the first thing you do when you walk into your studio (after turning on the lights)?
I always wash my hands first. Put on my studio clothes, head over to my Nespresso machine… smoke a cigarette.
What are you working on at the moment? Please send us a few photos taken with your smartphone of a job in progress – or photos of different jobs in various stages of completion – in a way that you think will give insight into your process.
I am currently working on several projects at the same time. I have to finish the work for the NADA Governors Island house which will take place in September, a large scale outdoor installation in Utah with Final Hot Desert in the spring of 2024, which requires a lot of planning and preparation, and my first solo exhibition in China at SIMULAR.
In the East Williamsburg studio of Vladislav Markov. Photo: Inna Svyatsky.
What tool or art supply do you most enjoy working with, and why? Please send us a picture of it.
I love my 3D printers. They are not luxurious but have a relatively large bed for the price. And I give an honorable mention to my coffee machine.
What atmosphere do you prefer when you work? Is there anything you like to listen to/watch/read/watch etc. in the studio for inspiration or as ambient culture
Every device I own that can play music is set to replay and yes the music plays while the coffee is flowing. I always listen to a song on repeat for about a week. After a day or two, that sound becomes my silence. You really get to know a song after listening to it for a week. And it’s not limited to techno… I do that with anything, rap, grime, soundtracks, and even/especially Steve Reich.
In the East Williamsburg studio of Vladislav Markov. Photo: Inna Svyatsky.
When you feel stuck while preparing for a show, what do you do to get out of it?
I do something that doesn’t directly involve art. It could be as simple as taking my dog upstate for a long walk, going to a neighborhood in New York where I don’t normally spend time, or fighting in a bar. I think the goal is to feel something else. Living a routine life can kill thoughts and motivation. It’s very important to see things and feel different things so that you can come back to the studio and have a new day every day.
What images or objects do you look at while you work? Do you have other works by artists in your studio? If so, please share a phone photo and tell the story behind it.
Carl Ostendarp was my professor at the graduate school and he gave me one of his works as a graduation gift. This is a shadow puppet painting of John F. Kennedy. I stored it because I don’t really like other people’s work being visible around me when I’m working. I know where this painting is in my studio and I can easily imagine it in my head and that is enough for me.
In the East Williamsburg studio of Vladislav Markov. Photo: Inna Svyatsky.
What was the last museum or gallery exhibit you saw that really stood out to you and why?
I follow Schinkel Pavillon and SIMIAN closely. I don’t know of any space in New York that puts on these kinds of shows and that’s probably why I’m drawn to it. The Taylor Ashby Hawkins exhibition at No Place Gallery is fantastic. I’m drawn to work that doesn’t fit in a mid-sized Upper East Side elevator.
Where do you get your food from or what do you eat when you’re hungry in the studio?
I order cheap Japanese food made by Ecuadorian guys from Seamless.
Is there anything in your studio that a visitor might find surprising?
The contrast between the exterior of the building, its hallway, the steep staircase to the second floor, and the clean gray box I’ve made over the years here. Oh and this guy one floor above me is sneezing really hard.
In the East Williamsburg studio of Vladislav Markov. Photo: Inna Svyatsky.
What is the most chic object in your studio? The most modest?
My Intex inflatable sofa and my CYBR dog.
How does your studio environment influence the way you work?
Its very important. I used to spend 20 minutes looking for a tool because the studio was a mess. Now I use Steelton commercial grade storage shelves. Why settle for a chaotic mess when you can turn your studio into a well-organized haven?
In the East Williamsburg studio of Vladislav Markov. Photo: Inna Svyatsky.
Describe the space in three adjectives.
Summer: hot, desolate, noisy. Winter: dry, grey, dirty.
What’s the last thing you do before leaving the studio at the end of the day (other than turning off the lights)?
I always check my keys. I only have one pair. It reminds me that I need to have another set made.
What do you like to do right after?
Sometimes I like to have a drink at Fanelli and walk home.
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