Mykola Matsenko

Born in 1960 in Ivano-Frankivsk region. Lives and works in Cherkassy and Kiev. He studied in Republican art school in Kiev, in 1984 graduated from Lviv national Academy of arts. An active member of Ukrainian art process. Since the 1990s, Matsenko works were exhibited at prestigious art exhibitions in Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, were involved in large-scale presentations of contemporary art in Ukraine. Together with Oleg Tistol, with whom the artist collaborated since 1992, Matsenko presented a program for Ukrainian contemporary art project “Ukrainian money”, “Museum”, “Ataturk Museum”, “Museum of architecture”, “Mother of cities”. United by the idea of “nurturing beauty stereotypes” as part of the art group “Natsprom”, both artists are attracted to the artistic discussion of issues of national mythology, the theme of Ukrainian Baroque, the Soviet experience, “national subconscious”.

Love triangle / 2007 canvas, acrylic, marker, oil, paint / 40х50

In “Love Triangle” artist sells its own view of heraldry, pereplavlyayuchy tradition of avant-garde abstraction of modern Ukrainian schedules, government acronyms and street graffiti. The birth of a new relationship marks the stereotype of Ukrainian culture – roses, carrots and “queen of fields” corn – is due to schedule means painting. Like other heraldic artist’s work, “Love Triangle” can be interpreted in riznomu- as irony of the Soviet ideals and at the same time – soft nostalgia for them.

Rose symbol that has a complex history of interpretations, often appears on work Matsenko in the compositions. And because the rose, which the artist gives the entire space of the image, has attributed several meanings. These include not only the beauty of [the typical treatment for Ukrainian tradition), but also honor – a mandatory attribute knightly code. Images of roses, deprived of their natural blooming flowers directly appeals to the aesthetics of socialist realism.

No title / 2005 / oil on canvas / 32х32

Galina Sklyarenko / art: “Nicholas Matsenko not only reproduce certain images as the basis for their produce. The world of the artist emphasized fictional, illusory that lie in directing to artistic and stylistic sense subtle vibrations, and so any quotation is able to gain not only more important, but moved in a different context – sudden “uniqueness.”