MYKOLA RIDNY/ "Pulse" and "Gestures"
15.05-18.06.2009
Kyiv, the 15th of May, 19.00 - Collection Gallery presents a new cycle of graphical works of the leader of the group "SOSka" Mykola Ridny.
Mykola Ridny, the project author: "The works of the series "Pulse" and "Gestures" are dedicated to the young generation of people. It is the continuation of the theme line of photo and video projects "Medinstitut" (2005), "Ukrainian Gothic" (2006), collective works of the SOSka group "Dreamers" (2008) and "Anthem" (2009). The new cycle of graphic works is different not only because of the choice of a different art media. The pictures are not the portraits of the heroes. The new generation of Ukrainian (and European) teenagers are split into dozens of subculture groups (skaters, emo, r'n'b, ska, antifa, hool, bon…). And each of them is represented by own heroes. Shown personages are deprived of the individuality. Following the behavior rules, gestures, visiting the important places to hang out, concerts, they merge with the mass of similar people of the same age and create one pulsing organism.
What is my personal attitude towards the image? Modern half-capitalistic society has built a lot of fascinating revolutionary fictions, rebel circles, where everyone can have a restricted level of freedom. That is why there is no sense to criticize the youngsters because of their political indifference. I explore the situation of mere show, the infantilism of the protest, but also the way of aggression, strict separation into "friends" and "foes".
Drawing with markers as a variant of technically "poor art" was caused by the actual social-economical conditions. The matter is the creation of the art object, that has no pathos of elitism and overcomes the distance towards the audience. Besides that the photographer or sculptor must not justify his media definition during his life. The artist is first of all the creator of ideas. The privilege of a young artist is that he can feel the rhythm of his generation, feeling the smallest vibrations. I hope that the meanings, given to the projects, will be clear not only for the narrow circle of professionals, but also for the big audience".
Mykola Ridniy is well-known as a founder of art group "SOSka" and as an author of personal projects. During 2005-2009 thanks to a series of curator projects of Mykola Ridny in the gallery-laboratory "SOSka" the fame of one of the art centers of Ukraine and Europe was returned to Kharkiv. The group "SOSka" where Mykola Ridny s the active member was represented in many European galleries, including project "Curated in" in the Gallery "Hubert Winter" in Vienna and "Mausoleum of rebellion" in Stella Art Foundation in Moscow, "Grabbing at straws" in Milan and "The Art World" in the gallery "Feinkost" in Berlin. 2008 the group won the prestige Austrian award HenkelArtAwards. As a pupil of world well-known master of modern photography Boris Mihailov, Ridny opened the project "Patriot Games/Ukrainian gothic" in the gallery "Collection." And the project "The Dreamers" was nearly obligatory to see in PinchukArtCenter.
Official opening will take place on the 15th of May, on Thursday, at 19.00 in the gallery "Collection" at the address: vyl. Pankivska, 8. The exhibition will last till the 16th of June. During the opening the author will personally present his works to audience and mass-media.
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