Voyage into childhood

On Feb. 20, “Little Stories,” an exhibit of works by the contemporary Belarusian artists Anna Koroliova (painting) and Andrei Ostashov (sculpture) opened in the gold hall of the Ukrainian Culture Foundation. The exhibit was opened by Borys Oliinyk and attended by representatives of Ukraine’s creative intelligentsia.

The exhibit is important in that it introduces the visual image of contemporary Belarusian art to Ukrainian art lovers. The award-winning Minsk-based artists Koroliova and Ostashov are well known in their country, and both of them participate regularly in international projects.

Ostashov is one of the first Belarusian artists to introduce his daring view of the contemporary world and man within the new reality. His works are already part of the history of new Belarusian art, and he is creating and shaping the independent art market of young European art. Ostashov’s works are easily recognizable by the pictorial exactness of children’s images and deep philosophical content.

“Throughout its existence art has always turned to mythology. In my works I use mythological heroes in order to expose the topic more profoundly and fill the sculpture with additional content and spaces. The image of a little girl appeared in my works with my daughter’s birth, to be more precise, starting from the moment she began to show an interest in the surrounding world. Answering her questions, I started to paint and sculpt.”

Koroliova’s works are distinguished by their pronounced naive simplicity of images from the world of children’s feelings. A gifted photographer, the artists creates whole portraits of moods and states by using painterly methods of expression. Koroliova’s works are in demand in Belarus and especially popular in Austria. “The world is full of princesses and magic. I offer the possibility to peep into a fairytale. You will probably see many miracles later in your life. Looking into the mirror, you will divine in yourself an open, trusting, and enchanting being filled with tenderness and love,” Koroliova says.

The theme of childhood enables the artist to appeal to the viewer, closing the doors on the secret corners of his consciousness and inviting everyone to set out on a journey to himself - back to childhood and its forgotten dreams, worries, safety, and warmth.

The exhibit continues until March 4.