Photo exhibition «Life of Deportation and Settlement» took place in the gallery of the cultural center «Korea Foundation» and was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Korea. Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation provided a travel grant to photoartist Alexandra Krolikovska to participate in this event.
During 23 days in the gallery space «Korea Foundation» photographic projects of two artists were present. Among them were picture series of Korean photographer Song Jong, who documented the life of the elderly in Chornobyl and studied Korean diaspora in Ukraine and picture series of Ukrainian duet Krolikowski Art «Memory Decay», that tells the story of lost memories of life in Donetsk, where both members of the duet were born. These projects were selected through competition; Commission chose them from a huge number of proposals not only because they present the contemporary art, but also because they raise certain social, political and ethical issues typical for Ukrainian and Korean society.
«The opening of the exhibition was a solemn event, that gathered not only fans of photography, but also persons who are involved in the international political arena. It was attended by representatives of the Embassies of eighteen countries in Korea who were able to see through poetic fiction socio-political and psychological situation in Ukraine and express their gratitude for the care of the important problems of today to artists. In addition to the opening ceremony, there was also organized the artist talk with my participation and Song Jong, during that we were able to explain our work from the author's point of view and emphasize issues that are reflected in these works. This event was also an international because in addition to the Korean audience representatives of the United States and the Netherlands were presented there, they showed sincere interest in Ukrainian events and contemporary Ukrainian culture,» - Alexandra said.
According to Alexandra, participation of Ukrainian duet in this photo exhibition, gave her the ability to present better the Ukrainian art in general and photography, in particular, to get a unique experience of interaction with Korean colleagues to rebuild international cooperation, to learn about Korean culture and plan further study of the general artistic tendencies in Ukrainian and Korean context.
«In addition, Ukraine was represented at a high level as a state that cares about its culture even in difficult times, and realizes that international relations are always closely related to the art world, which has no geographical boundaries and is able to unite the country in mutually beneficial cooperation,» - photographer summarized.
For your information:
Alexandra Krolikovska is a Ukrainian artist, part to the duet «Krolikowski Art». She works in the sphere of metamodern art with the medium of analog photography, performance, installation. She is a researcher of psychology in the arts, the author of scientific work on art therapy with the usage of a photographic process and researcher of metamodernism philosophy, lecturer, and translator of cultural texts. The duet translated into Ukrainian the manifest of metamodernism and received the gratitude from one of the founders of the metamodern movement Luc Torner. Works of «Krolikowski Art» duet were presented at the exhibitions in Kiev, London, Warsaw, Munich, Toronto, and Seoul; duet participated in the art residences in Turkey and Ukraine, Odesa Biennale 2015. «Krolikowski Art» regularly takes part in international exhibitions and festivals, it is currently working with German colleagues in the project to build the art laboratories in Slavutych, and plans to implement the project in the Czech residence PRAM Studio in September 2017.
The Open Ukraine Foundation provides travel grants for travel costs for Ukrainian artists to exchange artistic experience at the international level and to improve cooperation between Ukrainian and foreign artists. These grants give Ukrainian artists the opportunity to present their achievements around the world.
