Week of art diversity

This year the name of the competition exhibition is long desired, but judging by the weather, is rather unrealistic – “Breath of Spring.” About 100 artists presented their art works at the Central House of Artists on Lviv Square within the framework of the Ukrainian Art Week. And, despite not quite genuine spring mood, the organizers (event is supported by the National Union of Artists of Ukraine) welcome visitors to view the art works that will be exhibited here for five days.

Ukrainian Art Week is an extraordinary event in the art world. The project has the status of an “international exhibition” and is included in the Consortium of art exhibitions and festivals, which develops single network on National Art Weeks worldwide.

“Our goal is to bring the world of art as close to people as possible and discover the new names of bright and talented Ukrainian artists. We strive to provide the most equal opportunities for all talented artists, regardless of their professional experience. Winners of our competition exhibition receive a unique opportunity to present their art work on other interntaional venues of the Art Week Network, which includes 13 countries,” told Olena YASHCHUK, organizer of the Ukrainian Art Week.

The peculiarity of this artistic event is that it brings together not only professional artists, who present their works, but also talented art students. Besides, Ukrainian Art Week is, in fact, the only Ukrainian art project, that boldly presents the works of artists who have not received any professional training. Who knows, perhaps Ukrainian Art Week presents the works of future Pryimachenkos and Raikos? Exposition is quite diverse: paintings, drawings, photographs, and even sculpture. Traditionally, an important component of the exhibition program is the master classes organized by famous artists, sculptors, and photographers. For example, sculpture master class of the Ukrainian Art Week 2012 held in fall of last year was organized by Dmytro Harmash, famous sculptor, illustrator, painter, and graphic artist. And the master class in paintig was held by Vladyslav Kazachenko, painter and member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, an active participant of art exhibitions, contests and plein air sessions, winner of the prestigious prize in nomination “MARTS 2011 Best Painting” (Youth Art Salon). Thus, the guests of this year’s event will have a chance to participate in master classes in painting, graphics, sculpture, decorative and applied art from March 21 until 25. The master classes will be held by professional artists, teachers of the Art School on Chapaeva Street – Volodymyr Sai and Yurii Sivirin, artist Olena Yashchuk, who will supervise classes in graphics, artist Dmytro Olein (the topic of his master class is “Oil Expression”), and Dmytro Harmash will teach the secrets of sculpture art.

This year, as always, professional jury of experienced experts of art market from Ukraine and other countries that are members of the international Art Week Network will evaluate the works of the contestants. The names of the winners of the Ukrainian Art Week will be announced on the last day of the exhibition. This year the Ukrainian jury consists of the following members: Petro Zykunov, deputy chairman of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, Honored Artist of Ukraine; Viktoria Burlaka, Ukrainian art critic and art dealer, owner of the art gallery “Gallery on Instytutska Street”; Rafael Musatov, People’s Artist of Ukraine; Anatolii Marchuk, member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, Honored Artist of Ukraine; Olha Suvorova, head of the Design Department at Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design; Stanislav Potanin, member of the Union of Photographers of Ukraine; Volodymyr Sai and Yurii Sivirin, artists, teachers at Art School on Chapaev Street.

At the opening of the exhibition pleasant surprises awaited the guests. Visitors got a chance to meet nearly 100 artists, sculptors, photographers, and some even received a canvas by Dmytro Olein as a present. Artist, whose paintings are sold at the Christies’s Auction, made his painting in front of the visitors, then the organizers held a raffle for this piece of art and it went as a gift to some lucky visitor of the event.

There were also some innovations this year: four solo exhibitions of the Ukrainian Art Week winners – Olha Sternyk, Olena Yashchuk, Olena Romanenko, and Volodymyr Bevziuk run in parallel to the main exposition. Admission to all exhibitions is free.