Kyiv. Ya Gallery art center

Past Present

Sergiy Panasenko

05.08.2015 – 31.08.2015

Sergiy Panasenko

The first personal project of Sergey Panasenko in Ya Gallery addresses the serious and topical issues. The theme of war and the ruins grows out of Greek mythology. The artist obtains ancient ruins that have to recall about the end of any war, history and religion. The fate of man is to get rid of self-destruction, breaking his cross.

Exhibition Kyiv Ya Gallery art center

The first personal project of Sergiy Panasenko in Ya Gallery addresses the serious and topical issues. But a lengthy field of interpretations allows to avoid the emotional overload.

Inspired by the need to create the artist does not care about interpretations. Actually, what means this or that work should be determined by the viewer. Drawing works “any time, only lay a paper" Panasenko brings to nought iconostasis of new, but rather – old and forgotten – images.

A three-dimensional display of the project is not immerses, but presses on the viewer by a set of all available means to the author. Forcing to recognize: however much we convince ourselves that we are living “here and now", a burden of the past continues to influence us. From the Fall and wars of the Titans to the Crusades and local wars today – human errors are lorged in everyone's memory.

A generation of the overthrown gods appeals to the viewer from the floor. While the fragments of religious symbols float before eyes. As a fixed fragment of the past found during excavations, a graphic series “Existence" does not have separate names. As the names provide the framework of interpretation that the author seeks to avoid. “It is generalized images of a thought that everyone decides for himself – what it would be." The artist provokes to reflection and associations. However, he warns that what you see today, tomorrow will change.

Every day we become a little different and our opinion also changes. However, according to world history, people continue to repeat their mistakes again and again fueling wars and conflicts. The contemplation of the ruins, softened by reference to myths, continues to hurt. However, this torment has its own meaning: the artist proposes to think about the questions of faith and the root causes. If the Olympians died, perhaps this is fault of the man himself?

According to the author, the key to understanding the sad repetitions may be the doubt. To put into question the history, religion, and finally, the cross – as a symbol of suffering and disbelief... “Break up your cross" – the author advises and makes the viewer literally step over it.

Having a break on the way to the terrace, the viewer is again in the field of tension. And again the artist avoids interpretations and only hints – two sculptures in a small garden “can be" a crucifix or Icarus. Following this hint, we make the assumption: the drama of the confrontation of ancient and Christian worldviews is playing out that since the days of Arthur Nock has not deprived of sleep to many historians and philosophers.

From the wreckage of Christianity the artist obtains ancient ruins: the installation "Olympus" recalls the oblivion that awaits the past, present, to all and sundry. “So much forgotten, so much should be forgotten" – concludes the author, leaving only faith in the eternity of nature. Although maybe is it enough?

Olena Yegorushkina


The topic of ruins came at the beginning of the war in the east of Ukraine. I was immediately reminded of the gods of Olympus, their childhood and the war: how it all began, what the outcome, who lived by war and who killed for love. And what do we actually know about it.

...We ourselves have come to war, we want it. Someone did not know what it is. But for some it is the realization of children's fantasies. Everyone will have to bear the cross for his or her thoughts and actions. We are themselves spoiled faith, have changed the commandments and humanized God. We ourselves create trials, justify your sins before the others and are looking for the shortest way of redemption. And the sun and the moon continues to shine to all.

Sergiy Panasenko

Author

Sergiy Panasenko was born in Kyiv in 1983, where he lives and works.

He studied at the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (Architectural Faculty, Department of Drawing and Painting) until 2008. At final year, he decided to drop out of the university.

The artist works with sculpture, painting, design.

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