When a door closes, a window opens. This is something that Ukranian artists Aleksei Bordusov Aec and Vladimir Manzhos Waone can now attest to, as we start calling them the former members of the brilliant Interesni Kazki duo. For more than twelve years, the two talented muralists from Kiev created interesting fairytales across the planet, in probably any place imaginable, deeply infused with the place they are painted in. But Waone and Aec are now ready to part ways toward two individual, yet exciting futures, as their joint legacy of a magic surrealist world lives on.

To answer the question in our recent interview with Interesni Kazki, in regard to how the duo came to be in the first place, Aec said: “When we started painting together sixteen years ago it happened randomly. We were involved in graffiti culture and that mutual interest was the thing that united us.” Looking at their work, we feel this strong connection of theirs, the way they supplement and influence each other while having the same vision of what art is and should be. But the truth is that Waone and Aec were always artists of their own, who just happen to understand each other well and are able to work together under the umbrella of a similar style – one that inspired by mythology, religion, history, mysticism, even socio-political stances of Ukraine, as well as the rest of the world. Their massive, elaborate murals told so many stories, each asking for an interpretation and provoking imagination through distinct, refined artistic styles.

The truth is that those who know Waone and Aec as independent artists are able to tell the difference between their visions and approaches. Vladimir Manzhos aka Waone, for instance, recently created his first wall painted entirely in black and white, although we’ve come across his intricate monochromatic drawings many times. Made on a wall in a small South Indian town of Varkala, the mural is titled Matter: Changing States, and it expresses Waone’s concern about the climate change and its impact on humans. Black and white is also the direction that Waone will take as his own creative individual, although he promised not to forget colourful murals either.

In the meantime, Aleksei Bordusov aka Aec will go on to make vibrant, intriguing artworks filled with color, often accompanied by black and white drawings of his own. Some of his most recent works include watercolor on paper works, as well as ink imagery, always faithful to his surrealist style. As mysterious as ever, neither Aec or Waone like to talk about their future plans, as they try to ”live for today, not forget yesterday and be ready for tomorrow.” In any case, we wish them luck in their exciting endeavours to come, as we continue to follow their inspiring artwork around the globe!

www.widewalls.ch/interesni-kazki-break-up-waone-aec/

Painting together was a rarity anyways. This is a good move for both of them. Being a duo served no purpose and hindered their growth as individual artists.

Excited to see what comes out of this!

Further clarification from AEC:

"Dear friends. I want to make clear about this news. It is true but it is just officially. Duo existed only formally last few years, we painted only one collab piece per year, and then only because we were invited together to create one mural. All other pieces- murals, canvases, drawings were done individualIy. And due to lack of communication and disagreement on many issues we going to work separate since now.
I am going continue to work under the name Interesni Kazki, sure, together with my personal artistic name - Aec, like it was before
Stay tuned!"

Hit up mla - he's had a few for sale!

Hi grollies,

I've sent you a pm as I have a couple of hand finished Interesni prints for sale.


Nothing is showing in my messages box so I have no idea if you got the message. Could you let me know please.

Fantastc!! Price?

Local brand Ugly cool has just released three t-shirts with Interesni kazki, this is a limited edition. Here is the one i bought this week-end

Looking for:
- Waone Interesni Kazki paintings
- AEC Interesni Kazki ink drawings

Have cash or Waone drawings to trade.

Preference to newer works.

Hi all.
For sale is my drawing by AEC from Interesni Kazki. 

The drawing in the frame measures 59x39cm, and is framed by Gary at MFM. 

I am out of the loop with prices as not really following this scene anymore, so if this seems high do feel free to tell me, but I am looking for £1400 including delivery in the UK, a touch more outside of the UK. 

Looks like this. 



And this not in the frame....



Thanks

I'm looking for Hand Painted Interesni Kazki prints, Music of the Night & Edge of Time.
If anybody can help please pm me with your price. I'm UK based.
Thanks M

I'd of thought you had enough Interesni Kazki's that you've struggled to sell.

Totally agree. I'm amazed that their work isn't more sort after.

Do I get any points of a worthless nature? 😄

Just got the preview for a new exhibition from Waone. 



WAONE (Vladimir Manzhos)
Weird Tales
curated by Ivan Quaroni

Antonio Colombo Arte Contemporanea is proud to present Weird Tales, the first solo exhibition of the Ukrainian artist Vladimir Manzhos (aka Waone of Interesni Kazki ), ex member of Ingenious Kids, a crew of graffiti peoneers from Kiev, and later founder, along with Aec, of the first in Ukraine and all post soviet contries muralist duo named Interesni Kazki.

The title of the show, Weird Tales, as the name of the famous American pulp magazine founded in 1923 which published the stories of writers such as H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Ray Bradbury and Richard Matheson, introduces us to the fantastic universe of Waone, where the fables and folklore of Eastern Europe blend with the tradition of surrealist painting and South American muralism.

Self-taught, but grew up in a family of art enthusiasts – his father was a collector of antique orthodox icons – Waone has an authentic passion for drawing since his childhood. He begins in Kiev in 1999 as a graffiti writer, but already in 2003 he abandons the bombing on the trains and the hip hop style of the lettering to create wall paintings characterized by a truly visionary and narrative mark.

In 2005 he founds the duo Interesni Kazki (which in Ukrainian means “interesting tales”) together with his friend Aec (Aleksei Bordusov), with whom he shares an interest in visual narrative and esoteric symbology. In ten years of collaboration, the two make large wall paintings not only in Europe and Russia, but also in India, Mexico and United States (also Brazil, Australia). Their painting, influenced by the “clear line” of the Franco-Belgian comic strips and distinguished by brilliant colors, translates images of the unconscious into magical stories full of references to science fiction and numerology, to traditional cosmology and folklore, to myth and actuality.

When in 2016 the duo breaks up, Waone starts to develop a language characterized by the use of an elegant and highly detailed linearism. From Matter: Changing States, a mural realized in Kerala, India, black and white becomes one of the unmistakable traits of his style, along with the narrative attitude and the spiritual and esoteric implications that often permeate his works.

Weird Tales is a cycle of works that show various aspects of Waone's bizarre visual universe, imagined as if they were a collection of fantastic fables. For the Ukrainian artist, in fact, art is not only the reflection of his inner world, but also a way to communicate to the public a series of spiritual and symbolic values.

In addition to the paintings and drawings belonging to the Weird Tales series, Waone for the occasion will create a wall painting on the entrance wall of the gallery.