Ivan Arkhipov ARTICUL CTION A C o n t e m p o r a r y A r t R e v i e w Special Issue usual setup and process, would you tell us how do you develop your ideas? Ivan Arkhipov: I experiment with different engraving techniques, mainly with dry point. This process contains of etching dashes and lines with a firm needle on a metal board and then making prints of it on paper or any other flat surface. When I’ve been preparing for the trip, I’ve gathered all the materials and tools for such techniques. I had no idea about what I would find at the place. And when I finally got there, I’ve discovered that Art residence was missing the most important thing – an etching machine. So, for a series of large prints I used as a press a massive stone that I`ve found nearby. With that stone I was able to print several series of metal etching prints. Also I`ve created about 10 more works in woodcut, linocut techniques and painting. All works combined were presented at «Dancing with the stone» exhibition at the Shangyuan Art Museum Gallery. Making prints with that stone, using it as a press was like dancing. It felt like some ritual… Unlike the etching machine the stone prints appeared unpredictable – uneven, rough, ragged but at the same time - organic, natural. New location and material restrictions helped me to look at many things from different angles and forced me to act outside the box. The deeper I got the more fearful I was. Those unknown states and material resistance influenced shaping of images at my works, such as «The Stone» series. Along with the prints I’ve decided to exhibit the metal sheet filled with dye. Only some time after I began to decrypt that image inside my head: The Stone appears to be an enormous experience that humankind have had collected through existence.