olechko

had a solo show at Zeh gallery at the beginning of August. The concept something about heart, since every image carried some type of reference to the organ. Free tees with images from some paintings were the highlight of the show, although I am quite pissed off since I did not get any. Artist’s sister was a real sweetie and gave us recommendation where to get a drink after the show nearby. Here’s Antaloy himself on the top pic. The show attracted the cream of the crop crowd, I spotted there Lesya Khomenko and Ulyanov of proza.com.ua.

Zeh Gallery, 16 Illyinska st. , contant person - Margo

I came across her livejournal blog which reminded me I saw her paintings before some place. I’d rather post this artists’ photo here then the work; she makes up for a much more esthetically pleasing sight: blue-eyed blond, pixie cut, and from Lviv too - perfect! But what do I know? I am just a blogger.

Btw, a few months back she had a scandalous show in Drogobych (west Ukraine). Her painting of four-breasted Mary appalled the city mayor to the point he shut down the show early.

In the Ukrainian art scene I noticed a fun trend - at the commercial galleries there are lots of portraits with oversized heads  - the people look like grown-up babies.  We got one picture like that for a present two years back from the Gallery 36. These baby-people I pleasant to live with.  This one by Vladislav Shereshevsky is of the  Romanov family

I particularly like his society portraits, clearly modern faces in late eighteen hundreds setting., like these ladies in red on the bottom.  Altogether, here’s another trend - a fascination with the pre-revolution period - seen all throughout Andriyivsky descent on painting settings, restaurant interiors, etc. Well, it fits the period architecture as soon as you step out there outdoors.

All pictures are from the artists’ website.

spotted this coolest video on YouTube on Neeka’s backlog - of our favoarite Gogol Bordello and Madonna perfoming together at the Live Earth concert in London the other day.  Can’t figure out how to embed the video here right away…

I have been dabbing in paint for a past couple of months along with several lovely ladies from International Women’s Club in Kyiv proudly calling Yuri Solomko - our teacher ( he represented Ukraine in 2001 Venice bienalle). The highlights of the exhibition at Tychyna Museum that came out from this group are the Ukrainian dolls by Nathalie Bobrynska and amazing painstakingly detailed copies of Ukrainian old masters by Marisol Franks, and of course two of my beauties The art will be on show at the museum for another week.

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Tychyna Muzeum, 5 Tereshchenkivska St. , apt. 1,3

Along with the charitable concert, Elton “Serovich” John has brought his photography collection, for Pinchuk’s money of course, which is all for the better. The artists list is very impressive, Ryan Mcginley being my favoarite. His pictures gracing Vice magazine cover breathe with the same youth ease and beauty. The first day opening of the exhibit brought in the cool young but not yet famous (since the pre-opening happened the day before) crowd.

For me the FT Weekend last page read has been a staple of every pleasant Saturday morning. With the departure of Tyler Brule I feared the paper will never be the same. So it happened, it changed, and for the better. Now Chrystia Freeland took over his Fast Lane (called now the A-Train) column. To my delight I soon discovered she is a former expat to Ukraine writing often on Ukraine-related matters and super vitty and intelligent to top it all.

In her last post, available online, she touched on the growing popularity of Ukrainian nannies export to the US when dicussing the States’ curent attitude to the migrants, etc.

The reviews in the press were great for Sasha Makarska, the young figurative painter from the R.E.P. group of artists (Kadan, Khomenko, etc.) .   Here are some oils on canvass  that looked most attractive.  The gallery sits behind the botanical garden in the vicinity of University metro station. Inside interior is very Western, the catalogues for the artists they represented within a year of their existence are stellar quality.

Collectsia gallery

University Metro stop, 8 Pankovska st.

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.

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)