A confluence of VIPs and grand plans marked the meeting between artist Ivan Marchuk and the press, along with his devotees, held at the conference hall of the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences. Among the guests were former President Leonid Kravchuk, independent Ukraine’s first astronaut Leonid Kadeniuk, National Defense and Security Council Secretary Yevhen Marchuk, along with a bevy of enthusiastic art critics, colleagues, and other public figures. Commenting on his plans, Ivan Marchuk cited impressive figures. Even now he intends to stage a one-man show at the National Art Museum, displaying all his canvases available in Kyiv, including early works, over 250 in all. This will take plenty of room.
Most guests, above all Leonid Kravchuk, voiced the idea of setting up a personal museum and Ivan Marchuk school in Kyiv. Yevhen Marchuk, well acquainted with the artist creative heritage and his long admirer and friend, supported the idea. Moreover, he promised to use all his official resources to solve the problem as soon as possible.
The artist is prepared to present the city with 150 of his canvases, provided there are proper storage and display conditions. His offer is still unanswered and touches on a serious problem. One must not ignore the fact that Kyiv (and Ukraine as a whole) is experiencing a real creative boom. There are a wealth of new names and coexistence of variegated styles and schools, flourishing art galleries. Letting this epoch pass and losing its heritage would an act of unforgivable wastefulness. The fact remains, however, that not a single artist, talent and prestige notwithstanding, has a practical chance to have a permanent display, a place at a museum which is so heartwarming to every creative soul. One can only hope that Ivan Marchuk’s gift, assisted by prominent politicians, will be the first step in implementing a truly grand and noble cause: a Ukrainian Museum of Modern Art.
