Photographic art for me is a creative self-expression, a way of making sense of reality and a consequent therapy to accept the results of this realization. My series “Art therapy” is an homage to some of the most inspiring modernist artists, attempting to help me align with the new reality of my home country Ukraine and the state of world in general. I chose modernism as an inspiration since this was a game-changing art movement embracing a new industrial world. I used mixed media to create each work as a contemporary photo installation. As part of a therapeutic process, I only worked with self-portraits.
2023
FORTITUDE
In my reinterpretation of "Christina's World," I evoke Andrew Wyeth's original contemplation of isolation and connection to the land. Amidst Ukraine's war reality, the figure in the landscape symbolizes a renewed connection to the homeland, navigating challenges with a resilient spirit, akin to Christina's contemplative journey.
RESISTANCE
Kazimir Malevitch's "Peasants" was dedicated to Holodomor, the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33, a result of Soviet strategy to erase Ukrainian identity. Malevitch's abstraction becomes a symbol of the Soviet desire to see Ukraine faceless, assimilated into a broader Russian identity. In the current context, my work reflects on Russia's ongoing attempts to dissolve Ukraine once again, weaving a therapeutic connection to the enduring resistance of Ukrainians against cultural and physical erasure.
RECOVERY
Amedeo Modigliani's sculptural fertility goddess, embodied in “Portrait of Jeanne Hébuterne in Yellow”, finds new meaning against the backdrop of Ukraine, known as a European granary. The symbolic hues of blue and yellow echo Ukraine's identity, infusing the painting with hope for the nation's recovery. It becomes a visual metaphor for Ukraine's enduring spirit, suggesting renewal and fecundity amid current challenges, fostering a therapeutic connection to the country's resilient narrative.
IDENTITY
Roy Lichtenstein's "M-maybe" serves as a commentary on cultural identity. Lichtenstein's playful appropriation of comic book imagery challenges perceptions of dismissible, mass-produced art. Amidst the erosion of Ukrainian national identity by popular Russian culture, the piece becomes a call to action, urging viewers to contemplate the importance of preserving Ukrainian cultural distinctiveness. Inspired by Lichtenstein's approach, I seek to spark dialogue about the imperative of national self-identification amidst cultural assimilation pressures.
PURIFICATION
Inspired by Henri Matisse's "Dance," I juxtapose the joyful essence of life with the oxymoron of my current reality. Utilizing the emptiness of cutouts and the dual nature of fire—both destructive and purifying—I infuse new meanings into this once-happy dance. This work becomes a therapeutic exploration, transforming the familiar celebration of life into a nuanced reflection on destruction, purification and the potential for renewal amidst the challenges of the present.
RESILIENCE
My reinterpretation of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec's "Seated Clownesse" resonates with the allegorical cover of American Vogue featuring Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s First Lady, by Annie Leibovitz. Echoing painter’s respect for his model challenging societal norms - a woman choosing a man's job - Olena embodies resilience. Her fatigue reflects the burdens of her unexpected role. In a parallel narrative, Olena's dignified endurance parallels the strength of Ukrainians facing wars, forging a connection to the nation's unyielding spirit.
BARE
Drawing inspiration from Tom Wesselmann's pop art ideals in the consumer age, my reinterpretation of "Bathtub nr.3" delves into the Ukrainian experience, where traumas and emotions are laid bare and are widely circulated by world media in a cry for help. But at the same time the transformed bathtub symbolizes a collective yearning for cleansing and renewal, inviting viewers to explore the delicate intersection of vulnerability and resilience in wartime Ukraine.
SHATTERED
My reinterpretation of Picasso's "Portrait of Ambroise Vollard" captures the essence of Ukraine's current reality as I mirror the deconstruction of Vollard's face in the disintegrated surroundings. The closed eyes symbolize a dark present, while varied planes evoke a shattered glass—akin to Ukraine's shuttered windows and lives on a larger scale. The work becomes a visual metaphor for a nation navigating through a fractured reality towards a future amidst uncertainty and adversity.