Vladimir Stankovic is a Finland-based illustrator, graphic designer and fine artist whose spooky fairy tales are just dreamy and lovely. Check out what he shared with us…
Vauhaus: Who or what inspires your work?
Vladimir: Nature, life and death are something I constantly think about, and thought about as a child, so even then those things provoked me and inspired me to create. Also I’m fascinated by fairytales and folktales. I grew up in a surrounding where certain things were explained by some unknown forces, and I really loved those stories, even though I kinda doubted them. Now, that I’ve grown and understand the world a bit better, those things still astound me. The things that define one’s existence, nature’s processes, human psyche…the feelings I get when pondering about those issues really spark up my imagination. On the other hand, I grew up in a very dark, turbulent time for my country (Serbia), which had a great effect on many generations, and has left me with a feeling of unrest and anxiety. So I guess that creating comes as some kind of necessity or therapy, and a way of self-discovery.
Vauhaus: Tell us more about your work process.
Vladimir: The process of creation varies from already exact idea with thought-through sketches, to the totally opposite action, where the beginning of the piece starts on the blank piece of paper. In that case, the idea is “born” during the process, and every stage of creation can bring a different surprise; the composition, the characters that seem to appear and interact, and of course the meanings which can be interpreted in many ways. Also, I enjoy experimenting with new materials and techniques, although as a designer, I find the combination of the traditional mediums with the digital ones the most rewarding in terms of getting the needed results in shorter time.
Vauhaus: Any favorite artists? Why?
Vladimir: Hieronymus Bosch, Gustav Klimt, Max Ernst, Dali – are among many art visionaries that have influenced me, and are the ones I always admired, even in my primary school. I tried to learn from each of them and use that knowledge blended with my own ideas and inspirations. I guess that the worlds and the atmosphere they created are very close to my own inner universe. The monsters, the distorted depiction of reality and human nature in a way coincide with the way I feel about the world.
Vauhaus: Your are based in Finland, what places would you recommend if one were to visit this amazing country?
Vladimir: Finland is a great place, sometimes it feels like a totally different planet, which you will need time to adjust to. I am situated on the far North, at the very beginning of the Arctic Circle, and I can tell you that living here can be a real adventure. So I dare you to visit Finland during the winter, cause besides the chance to experience the -30° degrees, you’ll get to see beautiful sunsets with surreal, amazing colors, or the sun and the moon both on the sky at the same time! And of course the magnificent aurora! Just be sure to bring your warm clothes!
Vauhaus: What do you like to do when you are not making art?
Vladimir: Watching movies, reading, just relaxing I guess, but I rarely get to do those things, due to my studies, and the anxiety attacks, of course.
The Vauhaus would like to give out special thanks to Vladimir Stankovic
