What part of human intuition remains essential in how you work?
M. Z. - I studied both design and art-two closely related fields that rely on different skillsets. Art is about pure intuition whereas design is about logic and problem-solving. In design, you have to understand the problem you’re trying to solve and then apply techniques to reach a solution. As an artist, intuition takes over; you draw on experience almost unconsciously. As I work with extremely complex systems that use thousands of parameters, I have to work on intuition as it’s impossible to track and understand all the processes that are taking place. Intuition allows me to make decisions instinctively, without fully understanding the reasons behind them.
What excites you about digital art’s future?
M. Z. - I’m excited by the possibilities of interactivity and I have a couple of projects where I’m experimenting with interactive systems. About 10 years ago, I discovered a number of video games that explored art and design, which inspired me to create one myself. When making art, you only think about what you want to express. When you make a game, players find their own ways to use and interact with the system you designed. This is what excites me most - inviting people into my projects and observing how they interact and transform the experience.
Maxim Zhestkov, “Distant Lights”
Digital artwork, 3,840 x 2,160 px, 2024