Expensive… games
“ART Games” presents the chart of the most expensive contemporary Ukrainian artists
The art gallery “Mystetska Zbirka” gave an intriguing opportunity for the Kyiv residents to see the works of artists, whose paintings are purchased at the most prestigious international auctions.
Expensive art of Anatolii Kryvolap, Oleh Tistol, Arsen Savadov, Oleksandr Zhyvotkov, Olena and Vitalii Vasyliev, Ihor Husiev, Mykola Matsenko, Maks Vityk, Winnie Reunov, Mykhailo Deiak, and Pavlo Kerestei is presented at the “ART Games” on a sample basis – each author displayed one or two of his paintings. Most of the paintings featured at the exhibition have been created just recently or chronologically belong to the most famous period in the artistic career of its author.
It must be fairly noted that lots of visitors come to see “ART Games” with great enthusiasm. There are two reasons for that, both being very respectful. First is that all the presented artists are well-known in Ukraine and abroad, they have every right to be considered the honored masters of modern art. Every painting is a very important stage for its author: Zolota Bulava (Golden Mace) by Mykola Matsenko and Pryzma Zhyttia (Prism of Life) by Olena and Vitalii Vasyliev tune to a metaphorical interpretation of the reality; Kyivski Kholmy (Kyiv Hills) by Oleksandr Zhyvotkov and Peizazh (Landscape) by Oleh Tistol open the mystical depth in familiar landscapes. Viktor Sydorenko presented a painting from the “Levitation” series in which he contemplated the topic of self-identification in the post-Soviet, modern space through dynamic movements and intense coloring. Anatolii Kryvolap, master of “structured landscape,” presented paintings, where the apotheosis of intense and harmonious color gives the viewer the unique pleasure from sensing the poetic character of everyday life.
VIKTOR SYDORENKO. FROM THE LEVITATION SERIES, 2012
Another reason for active attendance of “ART Games” is that it provides an absolutely real opportunity for the audience to form their own judgment about what kind of art is being actively sold at international auctions these days. Of course, the art dealership is a game that is played by its own rules, that’s why it is especially interesting to try to get a look at its backstage.
Walking around the two small halls of the gallery and looking at the exposition, the audience do not just enjoy the aesthetics, but also turn into analysts as the exhibition clearly introduces the trends of the global auction business. For example, here are the figures released by the Ukrainian magazine Forbes: painting by Kryvolap Kin. Vechir (Horse. Evening) was sold for 186,200 US dollars at the London auction of the Phillips Auction House, portrait of a comedy actor Sasha Baron Cohen created by Husiev was sold for 18,750 US dollars. The worth of art works of other Ukrainian artists were also estimated highly: photoprint by Olena and Vitalii Vasyliev was priced 60,800 US dollars, painting by Pavlo Kerestei Kids on Trees, Sit-in was sold for 17,100 US dollars, painting Flash Art, Written & Directed by Quentin Tarantino by Reunov was also purchased for that much.
IHOR HUSIEV. POIAVA ANTYKRYZOVOI TVARYNY (APPEARANCE OF AN ANTI-CRISIS ANIMAL), 2009
You can see the expensive and prestigious Ukrainian art, recognized not only by Ukrainian, but also by international art-experts, at the art gallery “Mystetska Zbirka” until November 17.
