INVASION REDUX

NEW YORK — Art at the Institute is pleased to announce Invasion Redux, an exhibition featuring recent multi-media works by Ukrainian artist Mykola Zhuravel, opening at The Ukrainian Institute of America on Friday, January 22, with a public reception for the artist from 6-8pm, and will continue through February 14, 2016. The exhibition will debut a new body of work by Mykola Zhuravel comprised of 17 meticulously crafted paintings, mixed-media wall reliefs, installation, photography, and video, metaphorically exploring the artist’s response to the tragic political and military events ensued in Eastern Ukraine. Co-curated by Walter Hoydysh, PhD and Mykola Zhuravel, Invasion Redux marks Mr. Zhuravel’s fourth solo exhibition at The Ukrainian Institute of America.

The artist’s sensibility and finished works are presented not as documentary in narrative, but rather symbolically and phantasmagorically amidst elements of surrealistic grotesqueness. Zhuravel directs his attention on the heinous face of the enemy, who, in turn delights in sadomasochistic spectacle, for example, in images of anti-hero aggressors celebrating bacchanalian weddings, or, clownishly posing before a camera with “trophies” of children’s toys from the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. 

Oleh Sidorov-Hibelynda affirms in his catalog essay, “It is hardly necessary to explain the symbol of the ‘bear mask’ to the viewer—or, the bear itself, which is not only simply associated with the Empire, but comes to the forefront of action from the lips of its leader. The gregarious iconography of bestial images often weakens to the point of indulgence—the bear is called by affectionate nicknames, given attributes of feeble-minded goodwill—in all, the classic material of ephemeral Russian populist print material, reveals above all, uncontrollable craving and predatory aggression.” *

To fully comprehend and externalize the imminent and dire existential circumstances in his country, Mykola Zhuravel adroitly turns to the multi-media image-making cast readily available in his master artist’s toolbox––painting, sculpture, installation, video, and photography (the latter two directed by his creative partner, Daria Tishchenko-Zhuravel). Proving to be his most demanding and articulated pro-ject to date, Invasion Redux marks a defining mid-career moment in the prolific output of an important contemporary Ukrainian artist.

Mykola Zhuravel was born in 1960. He graduated from the Kyiv State Arts Academy in 1989, and has since exhibited widely in Ukraine, Russia, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, China, Canada, and the United States. His works are held in private and institutional collections in Ukraine, Western Europe and the United States. Zhuravel represented Ukraine in the 54th Venice Biennale, and most recently exhibited at Х ART-KYIV Contemporary 2015. He lives and works in Kyiv, Ukraine, often collaborating with his wife and partner, photographer and filmmaker Daria Tishchenko-Zhuravel.

About Art at the Institute

Celebrating its sixty-first year, Art at the Institute is the the visual arts programming division of The Ukrainian Institute of America. Since its establishment in 1955, Art at the Institute organizes projects and exhibitions with the aim of providing post-war and contemporary Ukrainian artists a platform for their creative output, presenting it to the broader public on New York’s Museum Mile. These heritage projects have included numerous exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art and topical stagings that have become well-received landmark events. 

The Ukrainian Institute of America, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the art, music and literature of Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora. It serves both as a center for the Ukrainian-American community and as America’s “Window on Ukraine,” hosting art exhibits, concerts, film screenings, poetry readings, literary evenings, children’s programs, lectures, symposia, and full educational programs, all open to the public. Founded in 1948 by William Dzus, inventor, industrialist, and philanthropist, The Ukrainian Institute is permanently housed in the Fletcher-Sinclair mansion at 2 East 79th Street and Fifth Avenue. The building is designated as a National Historic Landmark and protected as a contributing element of the New York Metropolitan Museum Historic District.

A fully illustrated catalogue will accompany the exhibition, with an essay by Oleh Sidorov-Hibelynda.

Exhibition hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12-6pm, or by appointment.

For further information: Please contact Olena Sidlovych, Executive Director, at (212) 288-8660 or mail@ukrainianinstitute.org.

* Oleh Sidorov-Hibelynda, “The Topos of Aggression: An Epic Battle for the Heart and Soul.” Catalog essay, Mykola Zhuravel: INVASION REDUX. Kyiv, 2016.