Timati

The entrepreneur and new owner of the Starbucks coffee chain in Russia, eper, Timati gave a long interview with the “third manager” of the Antiglyanets telegraph channel Natalya Arkhangelskaya, but spoke about his love for and for his other project, the Vanity Case channel. contemporary art – about why he didn’t give the girls art objects, how his personal collection started and where he got the limited Bearbrick toy by Karl Lagerfeld. We have collected the most interesting quotes.

how it all started

About 17 years ago he started buying plastic trinkets with small ears for a friend. It turns out that a friend flew to New York, where the Toy Tokyo store has been operating on Second Avenue for several years. It belongs to the legendary figure in the collectors’ world, Lev Levarek. While Toy was in Tokyo, I immediately asked: “What are your ears?” “I’m New York legend Kaws.” Levarek gave me my first Cavs. “Where else do they buy?” I asked. — “For example, at auctions at Philipps, Christie’s, Sotheby’s.” I thought it was just Chinese vases and mammoth tusks. I bought magazines, subscribed to the public about this art, went to Tokyo and got the first month of Bearbrick. This is how it all started.

About taste and loneliness

I have a classic Tokyo hypebeast taste. It is shared by a few people in our country, it is private. Therefore, I see no reason to display my collection anywhere – not because Timati collects it, who would really be interested in seeing it? For example, if I had Russian impressionism or serious classics, that would be another matter. Louis Vuitton requested my collection of chests for the exhibition, I have rare chests with colored monograms but they were also rejected.

I like what Asians like. Murakami, let’s say, fits many, but completes with Kaws and Beabrick – just for Asians and me.

I have no one to argue with about art. The girls do not understand him, except, perhaps, Nastya Reshetova – she spent a lot of time with me and began to understand, now thoroughly researching who, how much and where to buy. (Timati and Anastasia Reshetova were together for six years, they have a son, Ratmir. – Approx. ed.). I have 60+ senior collectors in Moscow, for example I have Chagall in the living room. You will never see them bright at home and you hardly know their names. “Honey, let’s show our house to Vogue” – no, that’s out of the question.

“I’m not stupid”

It is not mine. Auction – the “who has more money” story. It is more interesting for me to wait for the right moment when they want to find something and sell it. Maybe I know everyone who has what I love in our country – everyone has an offer, I sit, I wait. I bought a large collection from a man who sent me literally three letters – for the price he was offering.

Not everyone takes me seriously: look at this man, listen to his music, does he have any taste? Taste is a subjective concept. I’m not stupid.

I like Art Basel but I won’t be going to America this year. That wouldn’t be true. I have nothing against the Americans and the country, just not the time. I will celebrate my fortieth in Mykonos.

About investments

The price of the collection has increased fifteen times. Kaws, which was sold for three thousand dollars in 2006, is now traded at auctions for 250-300 thousand dollars. I never tried to win, I got what I liked but at a good price. I didn’t sell a single thing, I gave a few. Perhaps the most expensive are wooden “bricks” in the bedroom. A very small print handmade by Karimoku masters – this is a Japanese furniture brand, they have wooden chairs that are wildly expensive, worth 25k.

But there are more valuable things – history is valuable. For example, bearbrick Fendi owned by Karl Lagerfeld. I got it from Sebastien Jondeau, Carl’s assistant, that’s my Kent. We met in Saint-Tropez like everyone else – young, chubby, likes surfing like me, wake up, that’s it. She took care of Lagerfeld’s cat, whom Karl inherited a fortune, and is now suing for it.

There were a total of four Fendi bricks for the showcases of the four main boutiques. The season is over and the mink coat bear has moved into Karl’s house. Three days after my birthday, Sebastian writes: “You like contemporary art, don’t you? Let’s meet at the port, Karl and I want to congratulate you.” The convertible comes, the trunk opens … I’m already frozen. A fur coat has this “brik”. “Karl doesn’t mind him, I showed him his Instagram*, he said let Timati have the bear.”

What do I want to have? The fact that I have not yet found it at a normal price. George Condo has crazy nuns. A ballerina on a red background that Kanye drew for the cover of the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. I dream of a Basquiat painting. Great, sorry for going out too much.

About other collections

Watches, real estate, cars – yes. I usually like cars, I would buy anything in the world. I have an old gull-wing Merc. Recently bought a Rolls-Royce Corniche from the nineties. “Tesla” does not exist, electricity is not interesting. By Hours – Audermars Piguet, Rolex, Richard Mille. A standard set, but non-standard solutions in it. <...> “Rolex” just wear it every day – and it’s super.

about gifts for girls

I always have a non-trivial approach. But if a girl does not understand art, then you spend a lot of time, money and effort and she will be happy with just a bracelet or bag from the store, why would she need such gifts. But if he understood, the gifts could be something like this. Lori Rodkin inlay Vintage Rolex. Birkin bag that I will send through my friends for customization in Chrome Hearts. Or Louis Vuitton painted by a cool graffiti artist.

Earlier, Timati talked about his impressive collection of contemporary art, which was then widely discussed in the media.

*Instagram belonging MetaRecognized as an extremist organization in the Russian Federation