INSPADES MAGAZINE 010 | Page 53

“Coming alive can have a different meaning for different people, but for me, it meant taking the journey of a lifetime from cold Russia to sunny India and finding more than I ever expected – myself.” “Born in Saint Petersburg in 1988, from my younger days I was driven by imagination in everything I did. A successful art graduate, I have always been involved in the Arts, whether it was dancing, acting in school theatre or performing for my family and friends—it was always about the emotions and flights of inspiration.” “I started painting when I was a child. My parents quickly recognized it as something that could provide me with a future career, and rushed to enroll me in the Saint Petersburg School of Arts No.1. The moment they did, I lost interest in painting. Freedom of expression in whatever I do has always been the most important source of inspiration for me, but when I had to paint or create something I was told to, my desire to do anything started to fade. I guess with the way I was jumping from one interest to another, my parents thought I’d end up jobless and aimless in life. It all changed for me when I took a camera in my hands for the first time.” “I started in portraiture and fashion, working as a freelancer for 3 years, and was quite successful, but I didn’t immediately realize it was my calling. It was more of a process, journey. Sometimes, you can never understand how much something means to you till you lose it.” inspadesmag.com • 053