We transform the landscape then the landscape transforms us

05 Nov 2024

In this project Taras and William’s work examines natural, human, and historical forces within Russia’s colonial politics on the Ukrainian land. Inspired by Gilles Deleuze’s reflections on artists such as Cézanne, Klee, and Van Gogh, their art has grown more focused since the Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Their themes center on war, exploring topics like invasion, occupation, resistance, and deterritorialization. They employ diverse artistic techniques to communicate these ideas.

Taras’ installations reflect on the colonial history of eastern Ukraine, where the Russian Empire and USSR industrialized the Donetsk region. Drawing on memories of Donetsk and ideas from Blaise Pascal, he uses symbols like reeds to explore human fragility. Through AI, these symbols are transformed into animations that enhance his message.

In other works, Taras critiques Russia’s appropriation of Ukrainian culture, highlighting figures like Malevich, Repin, and Gogol, who were born in Ukraine but claimed as Russian. This ongoing pattern dates back to the 12th-century theft of the Vyshgorodska Icon from Ukraine to Russia.

Svitanok (sunrise) is an assemblage of three artworks which form an altarino installation. It questions a never ending appropriation of Ukrainian culture by Russians.

The Apotheosis of ruzzkiy mir (Апотеоз руzкава міра), oil on canvas, 1,5 x 876 m, Budapest, 2022. The length of the art work equals the number of years of moscow existence (approximately 876 cm)

William’s paintings, while addressing Russian imperialism, question how realism and abstraction have shaped art, particularly in reinforcing rigid ideas of power. In many classic works, figures are emphasized, and the background is passive. William disrupts this by giving equal importance to both, creating a flow between form and formlessness.

Inspired by Cézanne and Bacon, he experiments with raw, unpredictable aspects of life to break away from fixed images. This approach encourages viewers to question rigid ideas, emphasizing the fluidity of power and identity, and inviting creative interventions in how we think about representation.