Satellite Voices

Moscow / Русский

Inside/Out: Ivan Bolshakov

December 15, 2011

The founder of the self-published Moskvich magazine talks about his love to Moscow

• Text by Kristina Voytovich

Last month, Ivan Bolshakov presented the pilot issue of his own magazine Moskvich [Muscovite]. According to him, starting a magazine is like an appointment with the dentist: it's long, painful and expensive. This personal project, with the contributions from his father and grandfather in this issue, is not just a confession of love to the city but also a representation of a state of mind close to Ivan's heart. The one that is open for everything and keep asking different, sometimes unobvious questions. Satellite Voices talks to Ivan about his feelings for Moscow and the idea behind Moskvich Magazine. 

Satellite Voices: Tell us about yourself?
Ivan Bolshakov: I have a degree in pediatrics but I have been working as a designer at Afisha-Eda Magazine since its second issue. I also conducted the blog called Gastrogymnastics.
 
SV: What brought you to Moscow?
Ivan Bolshakov: I have been living here for all my life. So, my mother's womb brought me here.  
 
SV:  What does your city mean to you?
Ivan Bolshakov: Moscow is my favourite city. There is still Paris, but that's another love. As it is said in Moskvich's introduction, Moscow is inside me. It's true. I love Moscow as the whole and all its parts separately. I am not bothered by the fact that I don't live in the city center.

SV: Tell us about Moskvich? How did you come up with the idea to create a magazine?
Ivan Bolshakov: I have been doing magazines for the publishing house Afisha for six years. I have been thinking about starting a new magazine for a year-and-a-half. This summer I came up with the idea of Moskvich. I have made the pilot issue in three month. From scratch. The further it went, the clearer the key idea was. I understood that the space is immense. Next issue will have a much clearer conception. In the beginning, I have thought only about the one issue but now I considering making another two.

SV: What does mean to you to be Muscovite?
Ivan Bolshakov: It is difficult to say. We have discussed it a lot with Moskvich's editor Sasha Putilin. For example, can an Omsk-born person become a Muscovite? I think, yes. Despite his roots. It's all about consciousness and way of thinking. I am personally interested in people who can see beyond their noses. They are not satisfied with comfortable state of their physical body and asking for something more.

SV: What kind of difficulties did you meet lanching a magazine if there were any? Did it matter that you were in Russia?
Ivan Bolshakov: I did the magazine by myself. It was difficult but not impossible. Russia is like every other country. But we were born here, so we know how to live here. In any other country we would have to learn it. Even after learning, we would know less than native-born residents. For example, on the one hand, our life is less arranged but in the the other hand, it's less boring. These are the two sides of a coin. I like it!

Speaking of particular difficulties, it is always problematic to receive good texts from the authors in time. It's impossible and I don't know why. It's not about money because the same is happening at Afisha. Moreover, almost everything I have been making for the first time. So, there were lots of different surprises - the good and the bad ones. In addition, there was a time problem. I had to forget about parties and sex. Don't forget, I have a full-time job!

Photos from Moskvich, Issue №00, AW2011-12, by Ivan Bolshakov and Dasha Utkina