LIKES OR INFLUENCES?
When people ask me what or who has influenced my films, photography, design or writing, I reply, honestly: “everything I have ever seen, experienced and lived through till today”.
Which is not very helpful to the curious…
In addition, I’m an internal-referenced person, with most of my inspiration, ideas and actions growing from the inside, with little regard for external opinions or norms, except in my design work, which should function for others.
But still, I maintain an up-to-date list of my “likes” that you may find interesting. Something to scan through if you like what I do. Or, instead, something to avoid if you dislike my work.
However, please keep in mind that:
- I rarely emulate what I like in my own creations. For example, I do like Andrey TARKOVSKY’s films, but I would never shoot anything similar. Although I agree with a lot of his thoughts on art and with some of his work methods, we’re very different when it comes to aesthetics, timing and acting.
- My work has been influenced much more by what I don’t like than by what I do like. For example, I don’t like Nan GOLDIN’s photography or Ivan BUNIN’s prose; therefore, I avoid their techniques and approaches. But my list of dislikes would be 18 times longer than my list of likes, so I suggest we skip that.
And remember: tastes differ. Remain true to yourself.
DESIGN
My “visual roots” have little to do with Russia. I’ve spent my first 2 years in Switzerland, so the logos and packaging of SBB, Migros, Coop, and Manor from 1980-1982 are the first things I recall. And to this day, I remain a huge proponent of Swiss graphic design’s minimalism and rigor. Its precision, simplicity and color are clearly evident in my design work (usually set to a Swiss grid). And even in my still and motion photography.
In alphabetical order:
- Karl GERSTNER
- Adrian FRUTIGER
- Jörg HAMBURGER
- Armin HOFMANN
- Richard LOHSE
- Fridolin MÜLLER
- Josef MÜLLER-BROCKMANN
- Hans NEUBURG
- Paul RAND
- Emil RUDER
- Otto TREUMANN
- Jan TSCHICHOLD
- Massimo VIGNELLI
PAINTING
Perhaps the largest impact on me from the first years of school onwards.
In chronological order:
// Western painting
- Raffaello SANZIO da Urbino (Raphael)
- Joseph Mallord William TURNER – I copied several of his works when learning to paint
- Pierre-Auguste RENOIR
- Claude MONET – I also copied his works to study impressionism
- Paul CEZANNE
- Piet MONDRIAN
- Joan MIRÓ
- Jackson POLLOCK
- Mark ROTHKO
- Pierre SOULAGES
- Barnett NEWMANN
- Yves KLEIN
- Martínez LOZANO
- David HOCKNEY
- Chuck CLOSE
- Gilbert and George
- Christine AUGER
// Russian painting
- Ivan AIVAZOVSKY
- Vasily PEROV
- Ivan KRAMSKOI
- Alexei SAVRASOV
- Ivan SHISHKIN
- Arkhip KUINDZHI
- Vasily POLENOV
- Ilya REPIN
- Vasily SURIKOV
- Mikhail NESTEROV
- Isaac LEVITAN
- Valentin SEROV
- Mikhail VRUBEL
- Filipp MALYAVIN
- Kazimir MALEVICH
- Konstantin YUON
- Kuzma PETROV-VODKIN
- Arkady RYLOV
- Alexander DEYNEKA
- Yury PIMENOV
- Vladimir SEROV
- Tahir SALAHOV
- Vasilly YAKOVLEV
- Arkady RYLOV
- Alexander GERASIMOV
- Anatoly LEVITIN
- Leonid CHUPYATOV
- Alexander LAKTIONOV
// Chinese painting
- Hoang Pin HONG
- Sie Pei HONG
- Li Ko JAN
- Doug LEW
MUSIC
Second most important impact on me, after painting.
// Classical music
In chronological order:
- Johann Sebastian BACH
- Frédéric CHOPIN
- Alexander SCRIABIN
- Alberto GINASTERA
- Karlheinz STOCKHAUSEN
I used to play some of it when I was a kid.
// Electronic music
This really is my core. Electronic music has radically changed my life in autumn 1995. I wouldn’t have become a professional artist without it.
My still photography started with it in 1997. My first feature film of 2013 is also about techno music.
I listen to electronic music all the time, except when I sleep, run, cycle, when I shoot stills and motion, or when I write. Check out my favorites on Soundcloud, or dive into the list below.
In alphabetical order:
Techno
- 2 Dawgs
- Addex
- Anders Ilar
- André Lodemann
- Anonym
- Anton Zap
- Appleblim & Peverelist
- Axs
- Beat Pharmacy
- Below Bangkok
- Ben Rourke
- Ben Watt
- Benjamin Brunn
- Bitstream
- Blunt
- Charles Webster
- Chet
- Chopstick & Johnjon
- Christian Burkhardt
- Christian Linder
- Claro Intelecto
- Craig Smith & The Revenge
- cv313
- D. Diggler
- Dave Mothersole & Rob Pearson
- David Hausdorf
- Deepchord
- Der Dritte Raum
- DeWalta
- DJ Grobas
- Doide
- Dominik Eulberg
- Drain Pipe
- Dub Kult
- Dub Taylor
- Dublee
- Echologist
- Echospace
- Echospace
- Enola
- Fatih Tuter
- Federsen
- Five Green Circle
- Fluxion
- Franck Roger
- Franco Cinelli
- Frenchie
- Freund Der Familie
- Funk D’Void & Phil Kieran
- Gabriel Ananda
- Goldwill
- Green Thumb Vs. JV
- Gregorythme
- Grinser
- Harold Heath
- Hatikvah
- Havantepe
- Henrik B
- Hydergine
- Intrusion
- Itamar Sagi
- Jamie Anderson
- Jason Vasilas
- Jens Zimmermann
- Jichael Mackson
- Jim Rivers
- Joel Mull
- Johnny D
- Jonas Bering
- Julien Chaptal
- Kaito
- Kheema
- Klute
- Lawrence
- Lawrence
- Leftover
- Leonid
- Lephtee
- Linkwood Family
- Literon & Ovatow
- Luke Hess
- Maetrik
- Makam
- Manoo
- Marco M. Bernd
- Marko Fürstenberg
- Markus Guenter
- Masomenos
- Mathew Jonson
- Matt O’Brien
- Matthew Styles & Pier Bucci
- Maurizio
- Michel De Hey
- Mick Rubin
- Mike Huckaby
- Mikkel Metal
- Minilogue
- Model 500
- Modern Heads
- Modeste vs Soulinterface
- Monolake
- Mood Men
- Mountain People
- Move D
- Mr. Bizz
- Neurotron
- Nick Solé
- Nico Purman
- Ohrwert
- Oliver Deutschmann
- Oliver Hacke
- Oracy
- Ovatow
- Ozy
- P. Laoss
- Pablo Bolivar
- Parallel 9
- Pascal Feos
- Pawas
- Pendle Coven
- Petar Dundov
- Peter Dildo
- Phantom Power
- Pino Shamlou
- Polder
- Pop Out And Play
- Process
- Purl
- Quadrant
- Quantec
- Remote
- Rhauder
- Rhythm & Sound
- Ricardo Villalobos
- Ripperton
- Roberto Bosco
- Roberto Rodriguez
- Rod Modell
- Roddy
- Roof Light
- Sami Koivikko
- Samuel L Session
- Sasse
- Scott Findley
- Sean Byrd
- Sean Palm
- Sean Palm & Charlie Mo
- Sebastian Roya
- Sensual Physics
- Serafin
- Shawn Rudiman
- Shinedoe
- Shinsuke Matsumoto
- Sian
- Socks And Sandals
- Sraunus
- Stefan Gubatz
- Stefan Tretau
- Steffen Albert
- Steve Lawler
- Steven M
- STL
- Studio 1
- Edanticonf
- Subsonic Park
- Substance & Vainqueur
- Sven Schienhammer
- Sven Weisemann
- Swayzak
- Syrigga
- Tadeo
- Tam Cooper
- Textural Being
- The Timewriter
- Theorem
- Tokyo Black Star
- Tuomas Salmela (AKA Phonogenic)
- Two Armadillos
- Unknown Artist
- Vizar
- Westpark Unit
- Wighnomy Bros
- Wighnomy Brothers
- Will Saul
- Wulf N’ Bear & Random Factor
- Zentrale Randgruppe
Ambient and downtempo
- 9 Lazy 9
- A Forest Mighty Black
- a.p.e.
- Aim
- Air
- Alucidnation
- Audio Lotion
- Baby Mammoth
- Bent
- Blue States
- Boards of Canada
- Bonobo
- Bullitnuts
- Burnt Friedman & The Nu Dub Players
- Caia
- Cinematic Orchestra
- Cujo
- David Holmes
- De-Phazz
- Deadbeats
- Deadly Avenger
- Deep Space Network
- DJ Food
- DJ Krush
- DJ Shadow
- dZihan & Kamien
- Brian ENO
- Extended Spirit
- Fenomenon
- Fila Brazillia
- Fragile State
- Fresh Moods
- Funki Porcini
- Gabor Deutsch
- Global Communication
- Groove Armada
- Gus Gus
- Harmonic 33
- Herbaliser
- Jaffa
- Jazzanova
- Karminsky Experience Inc
- Kid Loco
- KLF
- Kruder & Dorfmeister
- Leftfield
- Leggo Beast
- Lucid Dreams
- Massive Attack
- Momma Gravy
- Moss
- Murmur
- Neotropic
- Nightmares On Wax
- Omnimotion
- Pan Sonic
- Plaid
- Plastyc Buddha
- Quantic
- Reflection
- Royksopp
- Saafi Brothers
- Shantel
- Sounds from the Ground
- St. Germain
- Sven Van Hees
- The Dining Rooms
- The Irresistible Force
- The Verbrilli Sound
- Thievery Corporation
- Tosca
- Vangelis
- Visit Venus
- Wagon Christ
- Woob
- Yoshinori Sunahara
Jungle and drum & bass
- Goldie
- LTJ Bukem
- Omni Trio
- Origin Unknown
- PFM
- Roni Size
- The Verbrilli Sound
// Art rock, alternative, punk
- Cocteau Twins
- David BOWIE
- Radiohead
- Lou REED
- Yegor LETOV
- Viktor TSOI
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
In alphabetical order:
- Richard AVEDON
- Bill BRANDT
- Henri Cartier BRESSON
- William EGGLESTON
- Ralph GIBSON
- Ray K. METZKER
- Arnold NEWMAN
- Georgui PINKHASSOV
- Alexander RODCHENKO
- Charlie WAITE
CINEMA
In loose order of importance:
- “Solaris” by Andrey TARKOVSKY
- “The Sacrifice” by Andrey TARKOVSKY
- “Andrey Rublev” by Andrey TARKOVSKY
- “Stalker” by Andrey TARKOVSKY
- “Mirror” by Andrey TARKOVSKY
- “Blade Runner” by Ridley SCOTT
- “Igla” by Rashid NUGMANOV
- “Heat” by Michael MANN
- “Manhattan” by Woody ALLEN
- “Celebrity” by Woody ALLEN
- “The Limits of Control” by Jim JARMUSCH
- “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Terry GILLIAM
- “Twelve Monkeys” by Terry GILLIAM
- “Brazil” by Terry GILLIAM
- “2001 - A Space Odyssey” by Stanley KUBRICK
- “The Shining” by Stanley KUBRICK
- “Trainspotting” by Danny BOYLE
- “Natural Born Killers” by Oliver STONE
- “Touching the Void” by Kevin MACDONALD
- “All the President’s Men” by Alan J. PAKULA
- “Inception” by Christopher NOLAN
- “Memento” by Christopher NOLAN
- “8½” by Federico FELLINI
- “Trois Couleurs. Bleu” by Krzysztof KIEŚLOWSKI
- “The Hurt Locker” by Kathryn BIGELOW
- “Dallas Buyers Club” by Jean-Marc VALLÉE
- “Forrest Gump” by Robert ZEMECKIS
- “Terminator 1” (not the sequels) by James CAMERON
- “Traffic” by Steven SODERBERGH
- “Matrix” (all 3) by Andy and Larry WACHOWSKI
- “Raise the red lantern” by Zhang YIMOU
- “Total Recall” by Paul VERHOEVEN
- “Starship Troopers” by Paul VERHOEVEN
- “Minority Report” by Steven SPIELBERG
- “Highlander 1” (not the sequels) by Russell MULCAHY
- “Chinatown” by Roman POLANSKI
- “Der Räuber” by Benjamin HEISENBERG
- “Paris, Texas” by Wim WENDERS
- “Die Bleierne Zeit” by Margarethe von TROTTA
- “Festen” by Thomas VINTERBERG
- “Fight Club” by David FINCHER
- “Subway” by Luc BESSON
- “Le grand bleu” by Luc BESSON
- “The Bourne Identity” by Doug LIMAN
- “The Bourne Ultimatum” by Paul GREENGRASS
- “La Haine” by Mathieu KASSOVITZ
- “Zazie dans le métro” by Louis MALLE
- “Torpedo Bombers” by Semyon ARANOVICH
- “Cold Summer of 1953” by Alexander PROSHKIN
- “Kin-dza-dza!” by Georgiy DANELIYA
- “Trees Grow on the Stones Too” by Stanislav ROSTOTSKY
- “White Sun of the Desert” by Vladimir MOTYL
You can also browse through a list of 500+ movies I’ve rated on Facebook.
SCULPTURE AND INSTALLATION
- ancient Roman sculpture
- Bruce NAUMAN
- Alexander CALDER
- Vassilakis TAKIS
- Yaacov AGAM
ARCHITECTURE
- Venice architecture
- Moscow Stalinist architecture
- Santiago CALATRAVA
- Norman FOSTER
- Yann KERSALÉ
- Jean NOUVEL
- Ieoh Ming PEI
- Renzo PIANO
- Richard ROGERS
- Johann Otto von SPRECKELSEN
LITERATURE
In chronological order:
- Alexander PUSHKIN
- Nikolai GOGOL
- Jack LONDON
- John Ronald Reuel TOLKIEN
- Vladimir MAYAKOVSKY
- Nikolay OLEYNIKOV
- Andrey PLATONOV
- Ernest HEMINGWAY
- George ORWELL
- Daniil KHARMS
- Samuel BECKETT
- Arseny TARKOVSKY
- Albert CAMUS
- Stanisław LEM
- Jack KEROUAC
- Arkady and Boris STRUGATSKY
- Kir BULYCHOV
- Venedikt YEROFEYEV
- Vladimir VYSOTSKY
- Peter WATTS