Exhibition | UKRAINIAN NAIVE. IVAN PRYLHODKO | Gardzienice Gallery, Grodzka 5a

Ivan PRYKHODKO is an honored Ukrainian Master of Folk Art. For more than 60 years, he has been working in the field of decorative painting, folk toys and wooden sculpture. Prykhodko’s art incorporates myths and legends, as well as symbols and signs, bringing Ukrainian folklore into the contemporary age.

This artist’s distinctive style is inspired by the works of folk masters of previous generations. His goal is to capture and depict the energy of fire, which has always defined Ukrainian traditional art, while blending the passion for creation with minimalism and practicality. 

The exhibition features Pryhodko’s recent and earlier works that allude to ancient Trypillian culture, which is geographically and conceptually close to him. Impressed by what he has learned from this culture, the artist creates characters that honour the Trypillia deities. The exhibition also includes the master’s austere wooden sculptures which embody ancient forms associated with Trypillian myths. The sculptures made in a traditional and simple manner look remarkably current and informative, capable of engaging with contemporary art.

Ivan Prykhodko’s artworks are deeply rooted in time and history, speak to the human soul and touch the hearts of Ukrainians. They are defined by colour and fullness of form.  In this way, Ivan Prykhodko produces new signs and symbols which reflect the spirit of Ukraine.

Ivan Prykhodko was born on September 17, 1939. He participates in many ethnographic and art festivals, fairs, symposiums, and national, local, and regional folk and decorative art exhibitions. He has received Pavlo Chubynskyi, Kateryna Bilokur and Petro Verna state prizes and is an honorary member of the National Union of Folk Art Masters of Ukraine. From 1972 until a few years ago, he had been running a folk painting studio in the village of Dudarkiv in Ukraine. His paintings can be found in private collections and museums in Ukraine and abroad.

The exhibition is accompanied by music from Andriy Lysetsky’s film “Ivan’s Land”, produced by “MaGiKa Film”. The music has been composed by Nikita Moiseyev, a well-known composer who has created many soundtracks for Ukrainian films. The compositions in “Ivan’s Land” use a variety of flutes, simple whistles and other instruments, such as ney and bansuri. Hurdy-gurdy, synthesisers, and percussions also appear. The performer is Fedor Sivtsov.

The exhibition is organised in cooperation with ROOTs agency.

Curator: Tetiana Pylypchuk

Details 

When:
18 August, 11.00-17.00
19-21 August, 11.00-19.00
17. August, 18.00 – opening. The opening talk will be interpeted into Polish Sign Language

Where: Gardzienice Gallery, Grodzka 5a
Admission free