Last Wednesday Ukraine House saw the opening of the Art-Kyiv-2006 international exhibit and fair. At first glance, the exhibit is unusual and eclectic: too many different artistic directions, styles, techniques, and genres. The works of celebrated masters and recognized classics of the late 20th century are hung side by side with works by fashionable young artists.
But this bright kaleidoscope has a certain logic and profound sense: more than an event of a purely artistic nature, it has a social mission. Art-Kyiv-2006 is the first major attempt to present private collections for general viewing. For the first time, works by talented artists, which have remained in the closet, and even masterpieces (let’s not be afraid of this word) have gone on public display. What has been practiced in Europe and the US for decades is a rarity in Ukraine, where many processes unfold “in the shadows.”
Thanks to the efforts of exhibit organizers, artists like Yevhenia and Bohdan Hubsky, Oleh Pinchuk, Natalia Zabolotna (project initiator), the Kinakh family, and many others presented their collections, which is interesting in itself because paintings on a wall can sometimes characterize a person better than their words and even deeds.
Art-Kyiv-2006 also invited 15 galleries, including MIRO (Czech Republic), Triptych, Irena, Zolotyi Peretyn Auction House, the Art Blues Company, the National Kyiv Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve, and other art establishments. “We are holding this action not just to popularize art as such. Perhaps it will give an impetus to the formation of a civilized art market in Ukraine,” Zabolotna says.
Special guest Oksana Mas, a young artist who is already well known both in Ukraine and abroad, was introduced at the art fair. Mas has shown her works at the Louvre. She decorated her territory with a red carpet and cages with doves that visitors were allowed to feed. The doves are a special breed called “Kyiv Nuns,” bred only in Ukraine. As Mas explained, this breed is mentioned in many 14th-century chronicles. We asked some participants and visitors to the exhibit to share their impressions.
Oksana MAS, artist:
“Our Russian counterparts’ Art-Moscow festival is 11 years old, and the Paris Art Festival and the Venice Biennale have existed for 33 and 106 years, respectively. These figures highlight our country’s backwardness in such things. But I am sure Art-Kyiv will trigger many other art festivals in Ukraine. Maybe the next ones will be decorative and applied arts or devoted to some more contemporary field. A country that is beginning to organize these kinds of events can be said to be passing from survival to a love-filled life. For when a nation begins to develop its spiritual values, such events become more important. Although my works are exhibited in France, it is of paramount importance for me that they have now been recognized in my homeland — especially when they are displayed among the works of well-known Ukrainian artists, which are now part of history.
“Incidentally, Natalia Zabolotna, the initiator of this project, and I worked together on the catalogue. Then we hit upon the idea to put doves’ wings on the front cover. Wings help you to ascend to the heavens, and a dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit.”
Oleh PINCHUK, sculptor:
“The exhibit is beautiful, but the main thing is, it is being held at the right time. A vacuum emerged in our country, in which there was no place for art festivals. I am pleased that we are finally ready for this kind of event. This means that our culture is slowly but surely developing. There is interest in art. Actually, when art exhibits have been held in the past few years, they were patronized only by artists. But here at Art-Kyiv we see intellectuals, business people, politicians, and other people. We have to thank the organizers and the present time for this because today we must think not only about cars and country villas but spiritual values. Here one can see collections that were being formed over many years.”
Natalia KRYVUTSKA, Ph.D. (Art History), deputy chairperson of the Human Rights Committee:
“If you have works but do not show them to anyone, be aware that they are half-dead. You may receive very many guests in your home, but they may not be true appreciators of art. But as a woman and a collector, I’d like to boast about what I have. I want the artists to be pleased that everyone can see their works. So I am happy to be able to present my pictures at Art-Kyiv. This way they have a chance to be perfectly appreciated by other collectors. I think all artists deserve attention. But if I may say so, a painting is better if it is in good hands.
“I would like to praise the project organizers for their catalogue. It features not only the exhibited works but also some that for some reason did not end up on the walls of Ukraine House. I must say we have intelligent people and a very cultured public. The very fact that collectors could buy all these paintings and keep them in Ukraine testifies to our people’s high level of development. In my opinion, pictures are charged with energy. On the one hand, they may have been painted with a deep feeling of joy. Such a picture helps cultivate good taste. On the other hand, if the work was painted by a wicked person and is full of harmful energy, it will only spoil things in the family. The exhibited works radiate only a positive energy that they will carry on through an entire generation.”
Svitlana FESENKO, artist:
“As a matter of fact, these kinds of fairs used to be held in Ukraine. Oleksandr Khamatov organized them in the mid-1990s. Then everything ground to a halt because it was the wrong time. But Art-Kyiv is being held at a very appropriate moment. It shows that there is a wide variety of excellent Ukrainian artists. Why not show and promote them? It is good that we have not only contemporary but also just normal art. We have always had a very strong school of graphics. This is a splendid event and it should continue. So I am glad to be taking part in the exhibit. I immediately accepted the offer if only because being listed in a catalogue is very important for an artist. Our artists are in demand. In the last several years it has become fashionable to collect Ukrainian art. By now it has become a habit to collect our national heritage, not just a fad. Still, real demand will emerge when our society becomes more cultured and educated, which will take some more time.”
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Visitors can view the works of Ukrainian artists until Nov. 10. Admission is 10 hryvnias. The organizers have assured us that schoolchildren, college students, and pensioners are still entitled to reduced ticket prices. A catalogue of the exhibited works is available for purchase for 300 hryvnias.
