Until recently, two special portraits were getting dusty in the back of a Kyiv artist’s studio. The portraits picture Russian President Vladimir Putin and his former Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych. And both are completely naked.
Now that recent events in Crimea and Ukraine’s east made Putin a figure of derision and Yanukovych, overthrown by the EuroMaidan Revolution, is no longer a president of Ukraine, both portraits are on prominent display in 5 Komnat Art Center.
The author, 25-year old artist Olga Oliynyk, has been planning to sell the paintings, but so far no buyers showed up willing to pay her the $20,000 asking price for each work of art. The center’s visitors seem to be excited about the portraits, but don’t rush for their wallets to take the naked dictators home.
“People usually laugh loudly when they see Yanukovych’s portrait,” Oliynyk adds.
Sprawled on something that looks like a bed sheet, Yanukovych is a sorry sight. His arms and legs are disproportionally thin in comparison to the fat body.
“The abnormally thin arms show Yanukovych’s pettiness,” Oliynyk says. “His grown punch means how much unnecessary stuff he has grabbed.”
His genitals are also ridiculously small in comparison to the obese body.
“Yanukovych has little genitals (in the portrait), because as a politician he is worth nothing,” Oliynyk believes.
Putin’s huge intimate parts represent his strong political power.
“No matter what we all think of him, Putin is writing world’s history. We will read about him in history books just like we read about Hitler or Stalin,” the artist says.
Certainly, the presidents did not pose for her. The artist made the paintings based on her imagination and ideas.
Portraits of Yanukovych and Putin are part of the “I am a Man” series, painted two years ago. Specializing in painting naked male bodies only, Oliynyk decided that her art collection of 13 nude men’s portraits would not be complete without the portraits of the two presidents. Yet she was afraid to showcase her art while Yanukovych was still president.
The public saw both portraits only at the end of February when Yanukovych fled the country. On Feb. 23 Oliynyk brought the former president’s portrait to Maidan. But even the author herself did not expect it would gain such popularity.
Photos of Yanukovych’s quirky portrait soon spread in social media. Some even suggested that this artistry was found in Mezhyhirya, Yanukovych’s now former luxurious residence outside Kyiv.
“When people see Yanukovych’s portrait in my art center they usually say something like ‘a good replica’ or ask me when I brought it from Mezhyhirya,” the artist complains about the persistent rumors.
Oliynyk also plans to do a painting of President Petro Poroshenko, also naked. Yet she is not willing to reveal the concept of the future portrait – or the planned size of the Ukrainian president’s private parts. “Poroshenko’s portrait will be extremely interesting,” she promised.
Kyiv Post staff writer Nataliya Trach can be reached at [email protected].
