Please tell us about yourself. When did you feel that your purpose was to be an artist? What studies did you follow? Where did you exhibit so far? What kind of art do you practice?

My name is Valera Hrishanin, my nickname is ArtMonkey, probably because I was born in the Year of the Monkey. I loved playing basketball and dreamed of becoming a famous athlete and a famous basketball player, but destiny stubbornly denied me this dream. I was diagnosed with a neurological disease, which kept me away from any sports activity. I lived in depression until my destiny made me dream. I accidentally began to draw and noticed that inspiration and my hands gradually became my salvation and a new meaning in life.

I continued to develop in art and conquer the peaks, I participated in many contests of Ukrainian talents, and I became the winner of one of them, I also participated in the Romanian show “Românii au talent”, where I painted with both hands at the same time two different paintings. All this brought me recognition and popularity.

Describe a day in your life before Russia invaded Ukraine?

If it was a regular morning, we started it by having breakfast, after that, sometimes we went shopping and when returning home my girlfriend would start to prepare dinner, and everything related to housework, and I would work, draw and prepare for projects, but on February 24th, everything changed.

That morning, my mother woke me up and told me that the war had begun, I did not believe it and I started looking the news on TV. We went out and the shops were empty, there was no money in ATMs and it was chaos and panic in the streets, it was scary, I also saw a lot of military equipment. I had to leave my country. I did not have time to take anything with me, just memories and an old book on the pages of which I began to draw. That’s how my new works were born.

How has your life changed since the war started?

It is hard to put into words, all my plans were related to my house, and now strangely it has to be canceled or changed. For almost half of my life, I have lived in Ukraine, now it is hard to say what is going to happen next because we do not know which way I will go. I no longer have a job in Ukraine, now the situation there is extremely difficult.

You chose to come to Romania. How were you received by the Romanian people and why did you choose Bucharest?

Before the war, I participated in the show Românii au talent, and after the war started I was invited to come to Bucharest and live for a while until the war ends. My surprise was to see how friendly the Romanian people are. They were very good to us, and we are very grateful to the Romanian people for their help.

At the moment you have a solo show at Rotenberg-Uzunov Gallery, a contemporary art gallery from Bucharest, Romania. How did the collaboration begin?

When I arrived in Bucharest, I wanted to find at least one job, so as not to be dependent on someone, and to help my relatives who remained in Ukraine. I wrote on Facebook that I am an artist and I am looking for any collaboration, after that I received an invitation to exhibit at Rotenberg-Uzunov Gallery, and I am grateful for this opportunity. I am glad, that despite the war, I sold my paintings and sent some of the money to my family and friends who remained in Ukraine.

How important is it for the artist to convey a message through his art?

This is very important for me, I can convey my feelings and emotions through art, and express them in different shades and styles. I express what represents me.

What are the stages of your creative process, from the idea or inspiration to the final work?

The first step is to find inspiration, it can be by chance. For example, if a situation happened or I saw something, I watched a movie and I got inspired by it, and then I think carefully and reflect on what it might look like, and then I start working, and during this time I can change and add something. This is how I create my works of art.

When do you know you have finished a work? Tell us more about the whole experience until you are fully satisfied with the result.

It is hard to put into words, I feel it rather than see it. After I finish the work I can stay a few more days and look at it and maybe change or add something, and then I will put my signature on the famous jumping monkey.

Very often when entering a contemporary art gallery, the audience is faced with the famous question is this art?; Why do you think art today is a challenge for the viewer?

Every one of us has his/her vision and idea of art. I think it is good if, for example, everyone would come to a common denominator, but in a way, this can be uninteresting, but I think that art should not be labeled that way.

What is your biggest challenge as an artist at the moment?

I cannot say that I face difficulties as an artist, but I have a few obstacles in achieving my goals, however, I manage to cope with them and I am sure that I will continue to do that and achieve my goals.

What projects are you working on now and what plans do you have?

Currently, I plan to open a series of works on the topic related to Ukraine, close to my soul. I plan to open exhibitions in the big cities of the world, such as London, New York, and Paris, and here I want to note that Mr. Uzunov promised to help me organize exhibitions in these cities. I respect him a lot as a person, and I think we will succeed. I dream that my works will reach the big art auction houses, Sotheby’s, and other institutions.