Artist Mykola Ridny is bogged down by never-ending paperwork. Sick and tired of powerbrokers, he offers an artistic take on stamps, folders, files, and ballot papers – solicitors of bureaucracy, in his exhibition “Documents.”
Apart from photographs and paintings, there’s a video installation, in which children walk over the stones that are laid out in the shape of the word “power.” In another work, Ridny painted governmental seals in an effort to show his disdain for the political manipulation they stand for.
The Small Gallery of Mystetsky Arsenal, Lavrska 12, 288-5140, www.artarsenal.in.ua, until Feb. 20
Austrian photographer Andreas H. Bitesnich rose to fame some 10 years ago. His first collection published in “Nude” photobook in 1998 was marked by the Kodak special award.
Over the years he collected the prestigious Gustav Klimt Prize and Vienna Award, among others, published five more photobooks of portraits, nude and travel photography and worked for international magazines.
Check some of his most impressive work in “Body Architecture” exhibition in Brucie Collections, 55B Artema St. 353-1234, www.bruciecollections.com, until Mar. 14
Reflecting on the most popular winter colors in Ukraine – black, white and gray, 10 artists present a collection of oil paintings and computer-generated pictures “Ukrainian Abstraction. Black and White Work.”
Black seems to be taking the lead. But it can either mean inner strength and security, or asceticism and grief. The sense is in the eyes of the beholder.
Bottega gallery, 22B Mykhaylivska St., 279-5353, www.bottega-gallery.com, until Feb.17 (closed Sundays and Mondays)
“Yin” exhibition unites different art genres and generations, presenting the works of 26 Ukrainian female artists. From surreal and sensual ceramics of 70-year-old Nelly Isupova to provocative and brutal paintings of 20-year-old Alina Kleytman, the artwork explores different sides of femininity.
The curators say this emotional and romantic art mix symbolizes the arrival of the age of women in modern art.
M17 Contemporary Art Center, 102-104 Gorkogo St. (Antonovycha), 596-2030, www.m17.com.ua, until Feb. 22 (closed Mondays)
Vinny Reunov takes popular brands and paints them in oil on canvas to highlight the importance of art in popular culture. In his “Live broadcast” exhibition, he plays with advertising images and TV personalities.
Reunov mixes up Chanel cosmetics, caviar, olives, and grated cheese together with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, all of which is painted on canvas.
Karas Gallery, 22A Andriyevsky descent, 238-6531, www.karasgallery.com, until Feb. 13
Ukrainian sculptor Mykola Malyshko borrowed a few ideas from traditional African art to make a series of wooden sculptures. Spiritually, his work pays respect to the African sculpture tradition.
Damaged by time or burned down by missioners in the 19th century, not much of it has survived to this day.
Simple and sometimes rough sculptures by Malyshko reflect on tribal lifestyles in Africa.
Ya Gallery, 55/57 Voloska St., 537-3351, www.yagallery.com.ua, until Feb. 14
If you ever felt like shooting a work of art for whatever reason, you are not alone.
Mykyta Kravtsov and Anton Logov painted war-torn, abstract scenes in order to show pain from shooting first.
Then, they gunned down their work, filming the process along the way.
Two more artists, Oleksandr Lyapin and Anna Voitenko contributed to this artsy violence with a series of digital pictures “To Kill Pokemon.” Pokemon is a Japanese cartoon and video game character extremely popular with children to the annoyance of many adults.
Ya Gallery on Khoryva, 49B Horyva St., 492-9203, www.yagallery.com.ua, until Feb. 14 (closed Sundays)
