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- Night shadows
Gankevich Anatoly
“The idea for the project was born in 2019, from a single photograph I took in the garden outside my studio at night. In the image, I was struck by the space, the cosmic depth of the autumn trees that were transforming into pixelated galaxies of the universe right before my eyes. I was drawn to this abstraction of paradox. The meaning seemed to be on the surface.
There was something about the way the crowns of the trees were abstractly geometric and followed their own particular, not fractal geometry, but a kind of anti-geometry. The surface balanced between depth and flatness, between pictoriality and abstract objectlessness. An oxymoron. The anti-geometric image of stellar space resembled the chaotic image of pixel highlights on the sea surface, where everything is reflected in everything, fracturing the unity, turning it into multiplicity. Only miracles make sense. This is how the image of the heavenly cosmic garden of the universe appeared, where all the stars are born and die.
The title ‘Night shadows’ came from outside, spontaneously, after the outbreak of war, far from home. Having lived in Europe for 2 years, my feelings and my attitude to my country took on a kind of nostalgic-mystical character. The image of the paradise night was perfect for the project, it accurately conveyed my personal, and I think our public feeling about what is happening in the world, and Ukraine in particular.” – Anatoly Gankevich
Education:
Anatoly graduated from art school in Odesa. He took individual painting lessons. “I did not study painting in an institution of higher education, classically, like everyone else, with one master who passed his technique and knowledge to them. I had many masters. That’s why I have my own idea of what art should be like”. In 1993-1994, he attended courses at Soros Center for Contemporary Arts.
Creative path:
Anatoly Gankevich began his professional artistic career in 1990 and later became one of the most prominent representatives of Ukrainian New Wave. As an artist, he became famous for creating paintings in a unique technique of mosaic imitation. Anatoly has been directing for many years. He left a distinctive mark in the history of national video art.
Selected solo exhibitions:
2023
– Frédérick Mouraux Gallery in Antwerp, Belgium
2019
– Past Noses at the art space of Mironova Foundation (Mironova Gallery). Kyiv, Ukraine
2017
– Forever & After at M.gallery by ArtCult of ArtCult Foundation. Kyiv, Ukraine
– Subtle Grounds at Lavra Art Gallery. Kyiv, Ukraine
– Certain Conditions at HudPromo Art Gallery. Odesa, Ukraine
2013
– Soviet Mandala at the 8th ART-KYIV Contemporary forum in Mystetskyi Arsenal. Kyiv, Ukraine
2012
– Explosion Conditions at Odesa Fine Arts Museum. Odesa, Ukraine / under the programme of The First Kyiv International Biennale of Contemporary Art ARSENALE 2012, at Taras Shevchenko National Museum. Kyiv, Ukraine
2011
– Flickering at HudPromo Art Gallery. Odesa, Ukraine / at Collection Gallery. Kyiv, Ukraine
From 1995 to 2005 he was engaged in directing cutscenes and music videos, as well as producing visual effects for film industry. The Gaze of the Sun trilogy, the first film of which was presented in 2020 at M17, is a return to cinema art after a break of more than 10 years.
1993
– Open Days, together with Oleg Migas, at New Space gallery. Odesa, Ukraine / at the opening of Soros Center for Contemporary Art in the National Art Museum of Ukraine. Kyiv, Ukraine
– performs the first performance Resuscitation of a Still Life at Odesa State Literature Museum. Odesa, Ukraine
1992
– carries out the first painting project Communion. Presents at the exhibition of the same name (together with Oleg Migas) at Odesa Fine Arts Museum. Odesa, Ukraine
1991
– creates the first video installation Purification. Presents at the exhibition of the same name (together with Oleg Migas).
Collections:
Anatoly Gankevich’s works are in the collections of the National Art Museum of Ukraine (Kyiv), Odesa Fine Arts Museum, in private and corporate collections in Europe and the United States.
Artworks Gankevich Anatoly
