New Identities

found paving slab, acrylic

12x12x5 cm

2019

New Identities. Walking through the city streets, I, as an artist, involuntarily paid attention to the sidewalk tiles that were used to lay new paths or renew old ones. Freshly stacked on pallets or laid out by workers along the work area, they caught the eye with their variety of shapes and colors. "Here's a ready-made artistic creation," I told myself, "that just needs to be transferred to an exhibition." That's how my collection began: after laying, there were always leftovers, and I collected these objects, which for me became a kind of standard of aesthetics. 

The tile already carried form and color within itself—the artist's work was partially done. But what to do next, if the next stage is even possible? By its purpose, the tile is laid tightly, forming paths with geometric patterns. I decided to repeat this process: I took two tiles, joined them, filled the gaps, and sanded them, creating something like a "connection" of pure forms. The tile's original function and appearance turned out to be hidden. 

In one of these combinations, where the tiles were identical, I saw an object that prompted me to certain reflections on phenomena, processes, and concepts that arose in my imagination. This minimalist abstract object—a form in white—acquired the status of completeness and a certain "abstract" identity. Any further changes could disrupt its uniqueness and originality, which it possessed at that moment. The work was complete, and thus a new identity emerged.

Exhibited:
«Metaphysics of surfaces». Kyiv Art Week, by Diehl gallery. Kyiv, Ukraine. 2019
«Kyiv Non Objective. Space and Belonging». Curated by Barna Benedek. Vasarely Museum. Budapest, Hungary. 2022
«5 artistes de KNO». La Galerie Abstract Project. Paris, France. 2022
«Sluice Lisbon: Territory». Lisbon Art Weekend. EST Art Foundation+KNO. Lisbon, Portugal. 2022

«Garden of Ideas». Avangarden Gallery. Kyiv, Ukraine. 2025