Nicolas Smirnoff is an artist and strategic consultant for art organisations and fashion houses, currently based in Barcelona. His blog Art is Alive has been running since February 2007, exploring his personal interest in art, design, architecture,
Nicolas Smirnoff is an artist and strategic consultant for art organisations and fashion houses, currently based in Barcelona. His blog Art is Alive has been running since February 2007, exploring his personal interest in art, design, architecture, fashion, music, trends, innovation, beautiful objects, feelings and experiences.
What prompted you to start the blog?
I was a bit fed up to see so many blogs of people showing off how fantastic their lives were, the latest clothes they had been sent by Marc Jacobs etc. All that to me is vague. As a result I decided to create a blog to provide facts, information, and give news about what's happening in the creative world. I also wanted to display beautiful visuals and interview people I came cross in my life who I believe are interesting.
What sets it apart from other art blogs or magazines?
The mix of different disciplines, the format and the fact that I actually rarely speak about my private life, which is what a blog was designed for at the beginning. I am also really proud of discovering designers or featuring shows that no one featured before me. For example the interview I did with fashion designer Maxime Simoens. Now everybody is talking about the "new Yves Saint Laurent" but I interviewed him a long time before the buzz around his fashion house now.
What about the name, Art Is Alive, what is the significance of that?
When I started thinking about a name, the sentence "Punk is not dead" kept coming to my mind, I like rebels! So I tried "Art is not dead" but I thought it was too negative so I turned it around and decided that "Art is Alive" would be the right name. It's also a reference to the movie "the Bride of Frankenstein". I am a huge fan of horror movies and its imagery..."Is Art Alive?" is now a question I always ask people I interview.
Has having the blog lead to other interesting work?
Yes I've been interviewed a few times, and the blog has been praised by the Financial Times etc, and I’ve been called in as style consultant for various clients. I'd love to curate an art show asking the question whether art lives or dies with the multiplication of media provided by the digital world. I'd love to curate an issue of a magazine, assisting a creative director on a line of products for a huge fashion house or design a fashion show. I'd also love to interview more people I admire and respect so much for their intelligence and culture, such as Karl Lagerfeld, Antony Hegarty or Matthew Barney. And of course, test and experience more art, shows, products, clothes, innovation...
What is your favourite post and why?
I suppose it's the one with Tilda Swinton, who I had the chance to meet at the Serpentine Gallery in London for her collaboration with Pringle of Scotland. First I found Tilda very nice, very approachable and very professional. Secondly and it's what I was referring to, not a lot of press were attending so I felt editors and writers were missing something important there.
