Ivan Marchuk, the face of contemporary Ukrainian art, arrives in Rome for a solo exhibition at the Palazzo della Cancelleria, from 11 to 24 February, with around 60 works offering an overview of his vast production, from portraits to landscapes and surreal compositions. Included by the British newspaper Daily Telegraph in 2007 in its list of the 100 living geniuses, Marchuk has behind him more than solo exhibitions in five continents, including France, Germany, the United States, Australia and Thailand.
Through his work, the aerist explores the deeper meanings of human experience and nature. His unique technique, ‘plentanism’ (from the word ‘to weave’), transports the viewer into a world of intertwined colours and light. In his paintings, the landscapes of Ukraine appear magical, while the human portraits are distinguished by their depth and metaphysical character.
The uniqueness of Marchuk’s art has been recognised not only by critics, but also by the Ukrainian state: in 2021, on the initiative of the President of Ukraine Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyi and under the patronage of the First Lady Olena Zelenska, the construction of the Ivan Marchuk Museum and Cultural Centre in Kyiv was started.
Among the quotations attributed to the Master, ‘Give me 1,000 years – I will paint the sky and I will never repeat myself!’ stands out, which seems to resonate something mystical and transcendental, especially approaching Rome. So much so that Andrii Yurash, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Holy See, commented: “It is symbolic and important that the exhibition of the works of one of the most famous contemporary Ukrainian artists – I intentionally write this word with a capital to emphasise the greatness of Ivan Marchuk’s talent and the perfection of his unique style – takes place in the cultural and historical space linked to the tradition of the Holy See, precisely in the year that Pope Francis has proclaimed, according to ecclesiastical tradition, Jubilee Year. This will be extremely symbolic and significant, as it will be a further testimony to the fact that the Ukrainian artistic tradition is not only an integral part of the world cultural space, but also one of its most brilliant and valuable elements, particularly in the context of contemporaneity. It is of utmost importance to reaffirm this in Rome, the spiritual and artistic capital of the Christian world and of the entire Eurocentric civilisation‘.
An opportunity, of course, also for all art lovers, who will have a unique chance to admire the works of an artist whose creativity reflects crucial moments in contemporary history, including the persecution suffered under the Soviet regime and the drama of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Marchuk’s works are imbued with a mystical light and the immensity of the landscapes of his homeland, but at the same time possess an intense sacred character in the dialogue they establish with nature and society.
