«TIBET»
2001-2002, oil and golden foil on canvas, 165x180 cm, 66x72 in

The fifth work of series «EUROPE - THE LAST 300 YEARS»

QUESTION: You said a paradoxical thing: “Europe is a museum”.
ANSWER: A macro-museum, including lots of small museums. Neither Africa nor South America, for example, can be described like this. Entire cities, provinces and even countries today are gradually becoming “artefacts” and selling their past. Look: Bruges, Prague, Antwerp, Rome, Venice - tourist meccas. While production is located in Singapore, Thailand, fantastic Guangzhou. Have you seen those grey-haired old women who have buried their husbands and spend the daytime chuckling in confectioneries and tea-rooms, and evenings in the cathedral, in front of rows of candles... And the Chinese and Filipinos are working 12 hours a day, eating noodles, grasshoppers and cabbage leaves. Sandals and t-shirt are all their clothes. They are sewing, sewing, sewing... And Europe is dying slowly.
QUESTION: Your favourite France too?
ANSWER: And my favourite France, my favourite Italy - and yours I’m sure... The incredible colossus is rising up before our eyes – the Celestial Empire.
QUESTION: The Celestial Empire is China?
ANSWER: Exactly - the number one on the globe. “China is a sleeping giant, and when it wakes up the world will tremble”, Napoleon said about China. And scattered around is the rest of the world. You know why? China has gained a victory over time.
QUESTION: Is it possible?
ANSWER: We have only two examples of such victory - Israel and China.
QUESTION: But how can you defeat time? By population, as in China perhaps?
ANSWER: Partly... But Papuan and blacks are also numerous. So what? I think the Chinese have another weapon - their aesthetics. Even the written language in the Celestial Empire has not changed - today a schoolchild can easily read the first Emperor’s treatises (very beautiful ones!) about the art of love, for instance, though they were written 2,500 years ago. However, you know, France and China are the same.
QUESTION: Is that a paradox?
ANSWER: France is the country of reference for Europe, without any “-isms”. While England, Germany, Denmark and others like our poor Russia are just imitators. The same in the East. There is China, and imitators around it. The difference is that China is twenty times larger than France, because Asia is twenty times larger than Europe.
QUESTION: What about Japan?
ANSWER: Japan is a England of Asia. With their refined and delicate culture. Nearby the large and wealthy Asian France...
QUESTION: China is the Asian France? That’s hard to believe.
ANSWER: Take a look at maps of Paris and Beijing - they are clear and straight. They both have an Idea. There is will and there is a decision. Looking at them both you can feel a strong power - and this power has good taste, it knows how to use people with good taste. Then look at the capitals of England and Japan. An incredible resemblance, labyrinths, chaos! In terms of methods certainly, not roof angles, as you understand.
QUESTION: Hence Europe is the museum. But Mercedes, Audi, Yves Saint Laurent are world-class brands!
ANSWER: OK, Mercedes. But among others it is just an attribute of image and status. Good European cars, ties. What else? Fragrances! But here we already have Kenzo, Issey Miyake... The rest of Europe is more likely an elegant museum mummy. Conflict and drive have moved to Asia. Islam on the one side, India and China on the other. Billions of each of them - dirty, wearing strange clothes and trophy guns... The dusty valleys of Asia have seen Huns, Sarmatians and Scythians. They saw the inglorious Soviet Army leaving, and they will see Europe resting by the roadside. Versailles by the roadside! Could Louis XIV ever imagine it? “There will be fireworks in the museum tonight, did you hear?” “Oh, dear Europe, a cleavage at your age?” “How dare you!”