Viktor Sydorenko: artist, witness, character. Retrospective review of creativity // Lecture by Nataliia Shpytkovska

In February 2022, during the Viktor Sydorenko exhibition “Year Zero. The Idea of Light” held a lecture by Nataliia Shpytkovska “Victor Sydorenko: artist, witness, character. Retrospective review of creativity”.

Viktor Sydorenko is one of the most emblematic Ukrainian artists of the postwar generation. His project Millstone of Time presented Ukraine at the 50th Venice Biennale. The artist is not apprehensive of experimenting with either theme or with material: he draws easel paintings, creates large-scale sculptures, works with video. Intentional damages, scratches; documentary photos; white stains under remains of colourful layers — due to these components, his works acquire timeless effect. Forming a transhuman society and new social subcultures, the meaning and value of the term “human” in the age of new digital meta-worlds are the main themes of Viktor Sydorenko’s art practice.

Viktor Sydorenko said, “One way or another, an artist is always in the process of painting one work. In my art practice, this work is related to my Character, which roams from one project to another with diverse meanings. The difference between his first appearance in 1996 and the contemporary variant is huge. Back then, my Character was dependent on historical circumstances, and now he remains on his own.”

During the lecture, Nataliia Shpytkovska presented a retrospective review of the artist’s work:

• where Viktor Sydorenko’s artistic life began;
• the origins of art in the artist’s life;
• origin and education of the artist;
• what influenced the choice of topics that the artist considers and explores in his projects;
• experiments of the artist during creative development, etc.

We invite you to view the lecture recording.