Before you started your modeling career, you were a basketball player in an Italian club Pallacanestro Varese. Can you tell us something more about your sport experience? What were your biggest achievements in basketball?
Signing my first professional contract with 18 years of age was a dream come true and it changed my life. My basketball career was cut short due to an injury and it was the hardest lesson to learn to accept that. Basketball was my biggest passion, but also a great teacher. It taught me how to play not only on the court but also in life. That game also opened many doors for me and looking back everything I do goes back to basketball.
You have been a model for twelve years - you walked for Dolce&Gabbana, took part in Gap, H&M, DKNY and Massimo Dutti campaigns, appeared on the covers of German and Russian "Vogue" and many more. How did you become involved in modeling and what is the most exciting thing in it for you?
My basketball agent and mentor had an idea to work on my image and he believed I could model and that it would help my basketball career too. I never thought that modeling will turn into a "full time" job for more than a decade now. The most exciting thing about modeling is the adventure, the traveling, living in different cities, meeting new people and making money while doing it.
As a model, you had a chance to visit Poland many times, for example as a guest member of Polish "Top Model" jury and for various photoshoots. Do you have your favourite places in Poland?
I love Poland. It’s a country that has given me a lot and always welcomes me with open arms. Krakow is probably my favorite city, I find it incredibly romantic but also Warsaw is great. I think Polish people have a good sense of truth, are very creative and hard working.
Apart from being a model, you are also a gifted modern artist. I saw some of your works and they are really impressive. What kind of message do you want to share with people by your art?
Thank you. You have to invent yourself and reinvent yourself. My first series of self portraits was a story about an artist who created himself. There are many things I would love to express and art is a great tool for that but in the first place I play. I play with the canvas, the paper and the glue. My art is not so much about "a message", not even about the "final product art" as such but I see art rather as an activity that moves you forward and if it’s any good it has the power to transforms you, the artist and the viewer...
How can you describe your main sources of artistic inspiration and who are your favourite artists?
The main inspiration is my inner life, transforming the experiences I had, the different lives I lived and roles I played. I love the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, René Magritte, Banksy, Egon Schiele, the writings of Charles Bukowski, the movies of Emir Kusturica, the music from my country but also sport plays a big role and inspires me constantly. I recently did a collage series on Michael Jordan, for me still the greatest sportsman ever lived.
You are a Serb, but you were born and grew up in Vienna. What characteristics do you share with the stereotypical Serb and the stereotypical Austrian?
Serbs are warriors and passionate people, they can't be controlled easily, there is some kind of wildness and truthfulness in them. They have a great sense of humor, in the darkest times they find a way to laugh and even when they cry they find a way to sing through their tears… Austrians are sarcastic but can also be very direct. I probably have a bit of both sides in me but also Italy has influenced me a lot, that's probably where my flirty side comes from :)
(Photo: Zoran Jelenic)
Recently you became a father. Did fatherhood change your character and attitude to life in any way?
Yes, a lot. Besides of being one of the most beautiful experiences one can have it comes with a responsibility and you start to show interest in a lot of things that you just didn’t care before. Like vaccinations for example… But it also boosted my motivation to work and provide for the family. Suddenly there is this little human that is more important than anything else. More important than yourself. And that's a great feeling.
How can you describe your main aims and plans for the foreseeable future?
Change is on the way. Inventing and reinventing myself is the game I like to play.
If you want to learn more about Sasha Knezevic and his art, please visit his official website:
https://www.sashaknezevic.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sasha_knezevic/
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