Vladimir Nenashev

The interview

1 - A memory of Salone and Bordighera

I have never been to Bordighera. It was not possible to get a visa in time in the last century.

2- What did you like the most about Salone

The Salone privileges a humor of the highest level. Humorists try to show their best. Prestigious festival, the most prestigious for artists.

3 - What is it the humour for you?

For me, humor is an opportunity to express my opinion on any topic. Without arguments, words and insults. But the genre itself changes me and forces me to express my opinion in the most accurate and attractive way possible. Humor is very good at “promoting” any topic to people.

4 - Your life as a humorist, if you look back what cartoon do you see?

You won't make money by making caricatures in Russia. But style and humor are in demand by companies. Corporate culture needs humor. Of all the media, humor and cartoons are published mainly by business publications. And it is business that loves illustrations, posters, books with humor. Therefore, I personally need to be interested in business, science, advertising and technology to have a job.  I was the first cartoonist in the country to work with online publications. Since the early 90s, I have been drawing and writing articles for computer and business magazines and books. In short, like this picture...

5 - Were you born humorists or did you become such?

I believe that humorists are born. The cartoonist creates pictograms with a deep meaning. They are easily understood and accepted by people. The drawings have within them a "special formula of logic" that is always present in the Cosmos. Without this formula, if the artist does not understand it, the drawings do not work.

6 - Risk or caution, what has characterised your professional life the most?

There is always a risk, since the opinion of the cartoonist never coincides with the "mainstream  opinions". For this reason, years can pass without publishing in the press. But without humor there is no evolution. If humanity had not been able to look at itself with humor, we would not have invented the wheel anyway.

7 - One of your cartoons that you'd like to dedicate today to the Salone, why?

I once drew a picture of people dancing around a fire, hoping that would be the one I would send to Bordighera. But the Salone was closed at the time.

8 - The poster of Salone you like the most, why?

I love Roland Fiddy's drawings very much. He and I exchanged many letters, long and sincere, which I still keep today. The poster with his drawing (1994) is my favorite.

9 - Humor today: its state of health. And behind the curve what do you expect?

I am sure that humor will become popular again. People's mental health will require it. By the way, I have illustrated several books for psychologists and pictures have become popular. The era of fascination with easily accessible and often empty information, secrets and gossip is coming to an end. Social media has also become smarter and has a good humor.