«In the West of Ukraine, sorceresses, hexes, or witches have long been referred to with the Hungarian word boszorkányok. For some reason, it seems to me that a boszorkány is not am old crooked woman walking with a crutch but an ordinary midlife lady who can influence the elements, govern plants and animals. Remember, in Nikolai Gogol? «…here, in Kieff, all the old women in the market-place are witches …» This means that almost every ordinary Ukrainian woman can be a boszorkány. She is no stranger to the sweets of everyday life. But on top of everything, she takes a philosophical approach to the varieties of fortune … Never mind…. Sorcerers. In this life, very few men are sorcerers. They, men, go in for politics, business and other common things. That is why true sorcerers are to be found in the «Red Book» of our exhibition. Fairy landscapes. The latest cycle of landscapes presents impressions from the journeys and observations of 2017 and a few pieces from earlier projects…»
Vladyslav Yavorskyi, the artist
Vladyslav Yavorskyi is one of the best-known Ukrainian expressionist artists. In his creation, an item, having gained a new shape (somewhat changed, distorted), thanks to the author’s creative fantasy, also acquires a new aspect, a meaning that strikes the viewer, making him or her to react to the painting strongly.
All in all, some 25 paintings will be displayed at the exhibition. Several landscapes from earlier series, full of colors, expressive, flamboyant, have become the hallmark of the artist’s manner of painting. The bright expressionism inherent in Vladyslav Yavorskyi is supplemented with new pieces made in a decorative manner. The unusual subject - «Sorcerers, Sorceresses and Fairy Landscapes», related with popular folklore - has attracted the author since his studentship. His striving after simplified forms is combined with contrasting colors of local proportions. Enhanced shape against the background of bright contrast surfaces bears interesting ornamentality («The Shaman». Oil on wood.). The author’s interest in the Naïve art is felt. His expressive landscapes have preserved the vivid and immediate feeling of nature. Purely emotional, they aptly relay the atmosphere of Kyiv, its suburbs and the most picturesque corners of Ukraine. The artist paints only with contrast colors, but the impression is very pictorial: a heavy column of water in a river, light breeze, a huge cloud, a rough silhouette of a ship – all is set in motion.
