Vlad Kruchinsky

I'm an African Studies scholar by training, with a PhD in history. For 15 years I worked as a researcher and lecturer in various academic institutions in Russia and South Africa. I've accomplished many research projects and developed numerous teaching courses on the history of the African continent, its peoples and other life forms.

I've been drawing cartoons since I was 5. I have no formal education in the arts. As an undergraduate student, I was part of a restoration crew working on Mikhail Roginsky's large-scale oilcloths. My understanding of painting comes mainly from this very intimate work. Concerning watercolours, my medium of choice, I am completely self-taught.

When working on my thesis dedicated to South African political cartooning, I became involved with the Capetonian cartooning scene. It was a very inspiring experience. Back in Moscow, I decided to do a bit of cartooning on my own. My ambition was to become a 'proper' political cartoonist and to gain employment at a respectable newspaper. All my endeavours in this respect were futile. The year was 2009.

In 2010, I held my first solo exhibition in a basement exhibition hall on Solyanka street, then a vibrant arts and cultural spot in Moscow.

On a whim, I posted my work to Winzavod's Start open-call. It was a project focused specifically on helping new artists assemble and produce their first solo show. An answer came many months later, when I had completely forgotten about this enterprise. They wanted to run my first 'proper' solo show.

Some group shows followed. I was fascinated by the openness of the Moscow art scene and soon made many friends in this completely new circle. Initially, being referred to as an artist made me laugh, but with the passage of time I somehow became accustomed to this role.

I mainly use watercolour cartoons to reflect on political and social issues. When participating in group shows, I'm drawn to meta-narratives, often humorous, directly engaging other works and the exhibition's main ideas (see Bike Taxi, Arthouse Squat Forum, Ten Thousand Wiles below in this portfolio).

My drawings are generally on the small to medium scale — say, 15 to 55 cm on the longer side. I like to play with scale, blowing up scanned originals, so that a 20 x 80 cm drawing becomes a 3 x 11 meter piece printed on gabardine or other high-quality material.

Sometimes my work incorporates a research stage, where I develop and read bibliography, so the project is executed with true academic rigour.

But more often than not I just follow my intuition and enjoy drawing and coming up with an entertaining story.

I live between Moscow and Cape Town with my beloved wife and two little daughters.