Speaking in the language of graphics

This is one of the most prestigious national events, for it assigns a “quality sign” of sorts to our graphic artists. Kyiv-based graphic artist Viacheslav Snisarenko has won in the “Printmaking” nomination for a second time in the past few years.

The master usually applies the technique of etching which dates back to the 16th century and was used by such famous artists as Duerer, Rembrandt, Goya, and Dali. But it is so complicated and painstaking that very few resort to it today.

Classical etching means engraving on a copper plate with a metal needle in a mirror reflection, then acid-etching, filling the received contours with a special etching paint, and, finally, printing on paper under a special press. But Snisarenko adds his own elements to this technique: he uses modern-day materials, paints the print with watercolor, gouache, and other paints. This results in a series of unique and inimitable artworks, in spite of the common “basic” version. When you look at them, you cannot understand what and how helped achieve such a refined and subtle image.

A professional artist will perhaps feel hurt if you call his works hand-made, for this seems to relate to something like embroidery or decoupage. But the most valuable thing in our world overloaded with microchip-born simulacra (suffice it to recall Pokemons alone!) is precisely a combination of fantasy, thought, and ability to create one’s own worlds by hand rather than on a computer screen.

This is the way Viacheslav Snisarenko creates these worlds which are so interesting to travel across – slowly and unobtrusively, without the almost “mandatory” high-pitch hype and self-hype.