Descripción de la Exposición
On April 13, 2023, an exhibition of art by Oleksii Shcherbak, one of the most promising emerging artists on the Ukrainian art scene, will open at Barcelona’s gallery of Ukrainian contemporary art, Test Gallery.
The exhibit will mainly feature new drawings and paintings by the author. “I am presenting a kind of utopian episode from my universe, where my characters allow themselves to close their eyes at will, to go deep inside themselves in search of answers, for self-defense, so as not to see the surrounding horrors, those that negatively affect them or destroy them completely. Which sometimes I, as a person, cannot afford to do. In certain situations, our closed eyes are tantamount to a crime. But at least somewhere someone can afford it.” Oleksii Shcherbak.
“The works that are on display are an investigation of the artist's personal emotions and their irritating, occasionally destructive factors, or an effort to draw them out of the unconscious through artistic representations. A symbolic, perhaps artificial attempt at escapism.
Closing your eyes can also be a response to an instinctive reflex that is perceived as the body's defensive reaction to pain. For example, if you receive a blow or experience severe discomfort, the brain can send a signal to our facial muscles to increase the distance between our eyes and the potential source of pain, which helps protect our eyes from possible injury. Hence, closing the eyes can be a conscious or unconscious reaction to pain, aiding in focusing on sensations and safeguarding the eyes from potential harm. In the framework of artistic works, it helps safeguard one's mental health,” says Test Gallery co-founder and curator Kateryna Pidhayna. On April 13 at 18.00, the show will officially open. Those attending will have the chance to speak with the artist and the curator. Address: Barcelona: carrer Milans 3.
The project is implemented with the support of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Barcelona.
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About the artist:
Oleksii Shcherbak was born in 1997 in Chernihiv, Ukraine. He was based in Kyiv for 9 years, until mid-2022. He has been addicted to drawing since early childhood, inspired by cartoons, games and comics. Four months after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the artist moved to Paris, where he enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts. In his works, Shcherbak often combines traditional oil painting with graphic elements reminiscent of the comic book and adds features of illustration, using them as a tool to enhance the inner state of the hero. His works have a touch of 19th-century nostalgia. They also often have a dark, fairy-tale Victorian tint.
The artist mostly reflects on the basic existential questions of humanity, love, and the relationship between people and the world around them. The author embodies his inner feelings through enigmatic characters from another universe. He gives each one a name. And in each painting, he writes short, mysterious stories about them, which he considers poetry.
He is inspired by Renaissance painting and many contemporary artists such as Odd Nerdrum, James Jean, Nicola Samori, Kim Jung Gi, Ruprecht Kaufman and others.
About Test Gallery:
Test Gallery is a contemporary Ukrainian art gallery located in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. The primary goal of the gallery is to introduce contemporary Ukrainian art to a global and local audience. By hosting collaborative events and other activities that can be appealing to both city residents and visitors, the gallery also aims to strengthen relationships between Catalonia and Ukraine.
Exposición. 17 nov de 2024 - 18 ene de 2025 / The Ryder - Madrid / Madrid, España
Formación. 23 nov de 2024 - 29 nov de 2024 / Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) / Madrid, España
