THOMPSONSPF10RESEARCH

 "“Welcome to Russia” poster. This one shows a real lady sitting in the entrance to public WC. In Russia you have to pay for all the public WCs." http://englishrussia.com/index.php/2007/02/22/russia-ads-by-mrevil/




 "(The ad above is for Russian cloths brand “Extra”.)" http://englishrussia.com/index.php/2007/02/22/russia-ads-by-mrevil/

Ivan Ushkov, also known as Mr. Evil is a Russian photographer and Photoshop artist whose work is very politically influenced. I was attracted to his work since I read about it being shut down before being shown in Moscow. Controversy in photography always attracts my attention. His work with branding, consumerism and the effects on culture comment on the same things I try and express through my photography. Even with the language barrier, I can relate to his work on ads such as McDonalds, Ikea, clothing brands such as Extra and country pride ads such as Welcome to Russia. Advertising is universal in the language which is speaks regardless of which language it is written. Advertising communicates to its viewers about something the ad wants to alter or impress in the mind of the viewer. I believe this universal language of advertising is causing some artists including myself to speak out about this relatively unmentioned force which constantly surrounds us.

Ivan creates his own view of brands and the slavery that we live in through brands and culture. He feels that people who create ads have control over the viewers’ minds. Ivan is Russian and has photographed Dennis Hopper. He has had a lot of press about his show being shut down and his files being confiscated. His “Welcome to Russia” series has gained him the most attention.

“When the St. Petersburg artist Ivan Ushkov whose creativity strikingness appreciate hundreds of thousands of visitors to its site on the Internet, the last money to buy a ticket to Moscow, he and the head could not come, what an unpleasant surprise awaits him. 30 Minutes before the official opening of its first members of the Metropolitan exhibition peered into creativity Ushkov and returned a verdict: something red eye from your photos with the guys "has blossomed lilacs" freaky. Welcome to Russia. Did not like the other Wizard of the series Welcome to Russia. In general, all photos fearful Muscovites show at the last moment took off. Shocked Ushkov on his return to his native Peter immediately came to our editors.

Ivan Ushkov on his works never puts his signature: he says he does not want to do of his art commerce. Therefore, each of his new picture begins to walk on a humorous sites, magazines and newspapers, and readers are sure that this same folk art, like jokes. However, it turned out, "Folk Art" in Moscow today are afraid to about the same as in the Khrushchev and Brezhnev times.”

Barsova, Natalia “I was castrated” Feb 2007 http://www.mk-piter.ru/2007/02/15/007/

"Rhe moral and economic slavery." (Commenting on why he creates his work)

-Ivan Ushkov

Kvasok, Julia. “OOO Pure Russian” Feb 2007 http://www.novayagazeta.ru/data/2007/14/33.html

“Recently learned that the number of tourists in St. Petersburg, has decreased by 30%. Thought: why not. Yes, because we have become fat and turned into an ordinary bourgeois town, with no face, no zest.”

-Ivan Ushkov

Kvasok, Julia. “OOO Pure Russian” Feb 2007 http://www.novayagazeta.ru/data/2007/14/33.html

“Disappeared with the leaders of bears in the streets, disappeared grandmothers with wallets, vanished atmosphere and I just decided to show an alien thing for which he was traveling here and that found here. Brand is not assessed contemporaries: he just lives in it and believe. Descendant does not believe, but considers a profit. And here is a foreigner - the very mirror that flatters unselfish brand or revenge. A foreigner is like an artist. He "leads fly" in the most ordinary places and forcing surprised: wow! Do photographers and brand managers have a common word is "focus" - providing the impact on consumers' minds. Just to focus in Ivan's all right. There's even an aphorism, posted on its Web site, is absolutely indispensable, and in branding: "It does not matter what your camera is very important, what is your lens! (Point of view)".

Kvasok, Julia. “OOO Pure Russian” Feb 2007 http://www.novayagazeta.ru/data/2007/14/33.html

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