Tue 15 April 2008 – 10.00am Exhibition Oleg Ikona Exhibition In association with
Exhibition open from 10:00 to 17:00 Mon – Fri 15 April until 2 May
Read a review of an Oleg Ikona exhibition in the Financial Times by
Oleg Yanushevsky’s works may be regarded as a Russian soul`s reaction to the changes in the state of the environment culture. The underlying idea of his art is based on the Russian Orthodox icon, though his works can’t be classified as religious. The influence of technologies and philosophy has changed the arts mentality over the last 40 – 50 years. A contemporary person has found themselves in the new relation to history, society and nature. Of course, this fact couldn’t help drawing an analogy with the art. The artist managed to feel the social nature and his being in such conditions has become the essence of his product.
His interest to the subconscious connected with the interest to the human history. In his works he is willing to show the invisible picture of reality, which is given to us by our existence and confirms it in his own way at the same time. Oleg mixes streamlined wooden forms that incorporate such diverse elements as radio receivers, micro-calculators, microphones, children toys, just like history and time mix together cultures, values and ideas.
His “founded objects” are deep like genetic memory and might be deciphered on different personal and national levels. The artist is trying to represent the time as symbolic facts, which are read as the documents of history. It makes his works very cosmopolitan and poetic. We see the classical signs and objects with Bible characters and the reflection of the contemporary times, including the elements of other cultures. Oleg Yanushevsky calls these structures of his artistic production the “new icons”.
Playing culture games, the new iconography composer invites his audience to participate in them. In his artistic objects he synthesis expensive original forms with cheap mass stuffing, and they generate a new sample can be used for various purposes: mode on, play with and so on. Joining such games, switching on our memory and imagination each of us becomes a part of the “New Iconic World “.
- Mark Tish, Professor of Houston University.
Read a review of an Oleg Ikona exhibition in the Financial Times by
OLEGIKONA / YANUSHEVSKY biography
Born 1959, Lugansk, Ukraine. Lives in London, UK.
Works as an artist and curator. Founder of St. Petersburg Institute of Experiment & Performance, 1996. Curator of Festival of Experimental Arts, St. Petersburg, Russia, 1996-2006. Member of State Union of Russian artists since 1991 Studied: High School of Art, Lugansk, Ukraine (1974 – 1979) Academy of Art, St. Petersburg, Russia (1983 – 1989). Awarded fellowship to Wimbledon High School of Art, U.K. (1990 – 1991). Since 1986 participated in over 200 exhibitions in Russia, Germany, Poland, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Finland and USA.
selected exhibitions:
Krista Mikkola Gallery, Helsinki, Finland 2008 KIASMA Art Museum, Helsinki, Finland 2007 HMS 1918 President, London 2007 SOLANA Gallery, London 2007 MEZZO Gallery, Helsinki, Finland 2006 View Two Gallery, Liverpool, UK 2005 MEZZO Gallery, Helsinki, Finland 2005 Anya Tish Gallery, Houston, USA 2004-2005 Art Moscow, Russia 2004 City Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia 2003 Art Moscow, Russia 2003 Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Carmarthen, UK 2003 Marat Guelman Gallery, Moscow, Russia 2003 Pussy Galore Gallery, Berlin, Germany 2002 University Köln, Germany 2002 Stadtgalerie Bremen, Germany 2002 MEZZO Gallery, Helsinki, Finland 2001 S.P.A.S. Gallery St. Petersburg, Russia 2001 Glass Palace, Helsinki, Finland 2000 Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia 2000 Art Forum, Berlin, Germany 1999 Navicula Artis Gallery, St Petersburg, Russia 1999 Kunsthalle Lubeck, Germany 1999 Ujazdowski Contemporary Art Center, Warsaw, Poland 1998 1020 gallery, Wien, Austria 1994 Ben Uri Art Society, London, UK 1993 Solstice gallery, Edinburgh, UK 1990 Academy of Art, Orhus, Denmark 1989
public collections:
Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia; Russian-Finnish Society, Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg Museum of Sculpture, St. Petersburg, Russia. European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, London
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