olechko

Tryptyh (Triptych) gallery heavily works for sales. Its Andriyivsky uzviz location allows for easy access and association with the other good galleries. But in the past year its shows caught my attention several times.

The exhibit that just ended by Mykhailo Demtsiu figurated in the local press. His oils intrigued with freshness and clear bright colors, had an ethnic Carpathian feel to it. Seems like the artist allpies paints straight out of the tubes.  Demtsiu is not an up and coming local artist, his works go for Western prices (he seems to be popular in France) but it only pleases me now to know that someone in Ukraine is capable of buying him too.

Yesterday I saw the coolest grafitti on V. Zhytomyrska. I remember bring back from London a photo-book by Banksy, determined to introduce the fine grafitti movement in Kyiv. After doing some little research on the internet, I learned that each seasoned street-artist got in trouble with police at least once. (They all got out fine, everything seems to be bought for 50 hrv these days, but the perspective of spending a night in jail is no good). This is where my ambitions stopped. Though the fastination gave way into admiring already exiting works on the walls of Kyiv.

I found this thorough collection of street-art that shows off some best practices, categorised geographically. Among those kids ik crew (Interesni Kazki) seems to be the most artistic folk. Unlike Bansky’s work (the ones I saw were on Brik Lane), it’s still hard to find the good stuff in the city center, thanks for police virgilence, sigh.

I happily observe the first signs of spring in the city - the whitewashed trunks of trees. That’s done so that all kind of bugs and pests do not chew on the trees, right? For what reason though do the concrete curbs on the sidewalks get whitewashed too?? Please, enlighten me on this one; even though a Ukrainian, I am still bewildered, hm.

There is a lot of talk on the town about Gapchinska. She is labeled for being outwardly commercial, a mere children’s book illustrator, etc-etc. I did not want to put in my five cents untill I visited her gallery on Mykailivska and now I did! All those labels are true and then some more. Her images are very likable, simple, and highly sellable (and for a very hefty price).

Behind the saccharine decorations there is a solid concept, certain recognizable style in which all works are kept. and great business cunning. I send my regards for all of those points. And finally, why criticize unnecessarily if ultimately the works sell? As my wise art teacher said, there will be a buyer for every artwork, just need to find the right match. And what if this matchmaking is done with a bit of marketing help? The rest is while envy. Go see the ongoing exhibit!

16 Mykhailivska (shares the entrance with some law firm)

You might have seen tons of people carrying around some twigs with furry little flower thingies on them - those are willow branches, blessed today by the priests in church. The whole thing quite set the spring mood and gave a reason to pull out summer clothes from the closets for the firt time this spring.

Here this lady was buying the twigs on a sidewalk from babushkas, with St. Sophia in the background - looking very happy about her new summer purse and a bunch of twigs in left her hand.

Sometime during the winter I wrote about the March of Santas. Now the season of walking advertisements re-opens with even more colorful and attention grabbing outfits and performances I captured here on Podil yesterday. One thing missing - behind this excitement it’s really hard to figure out what the hell they advertise. It’s almost like the marketers make it a forbidden fruit and make us chase down the characters to ask the question. Aha, right, I am here just for the free entertainment!