Exhibition view

National Art Museum of Ukraine presents a part of a unique collection of Gradobank. Ukrainian art gathered by Gradobank from the second half of 1980-1995 years. It is for the first time that such extensive exposure of works of post-perestroika generation of artists will be introduced to the public.

The title of the exhibition ‘Leaving and Returning’, comes from Glib Vysheslavsky’s painting made in 1989. Art was one of the most important influences and architects of socio-political changes that took place in Ukraine at that time. The young artists including Vysheslavsky, commenced to create the foundations for the emergence of the new art in Ukraine through art and exploration of new forms of presentation of their work. It was the time of appearance of independent art critics, artists’ associations, galleries, patrons and corporate collections, within which Gradobank collection appears to be the most significant one. The collection stands out due to its high artistic quality, impresses by depth expert approach, and covers the most interesting phenomenas of art at that time.

The works that have been hidden from the viewer for almost twenty years are now back for public viewing. It becomes symbolic, as the fiery discussions arise, for the creation of The Modern Art Museum along with the need for objective and comprehensive coverage of art processes that took place during the last century.

About 100 works will be exhibited by Anatoly Kryvolap, Ilya Chichkan, Arsen Savadov, Olexandr Roytburd, Georgy Senchenko, Tiberiy Silvashi and Dmytro Kavsan and other artists. These works reveal the breadth of exploration at that time. Exhibition ‘Leaving and Returning’, brings together the main ideas that were dominant within art during those years. It was the time of returning to and rethinking of religious contexts within art, new approaches to the depiction of everyday life and in some way a travel through time and space. The impact that followed from overcoming the restrictions within fine art affected the development of freedom of expression, development of non-figurative art, and exploration of the latest world trends.

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