On the eve of Independence Day, the Museum of the History of Kyiv will open a retrospective exhibition of Ivan Marchuk – the brilliant Ukrainian artist whose name is known worldwide, and whose unique technique, plyontanism, is sincerely admired by art market professionals and art enthusiasts alike.
The project Cosmic Mystery of Life presents a retrospective of the artist’s oeuvre – from his early paintings of the 1960s, through his key cycle The Voice of My Soul, to the watercolor compositions created over the past two years during his forced emigration due to Russia’s full-scale invasion. Today, Marchuk’s canvases serve as a powerful element of cultural diplomacy, shaping a positive image of Ukraine in the global art space.
“During wartime, a work of art is not only beauty and aesthetic pleasure, but also the voice of the state, reminding the world how Ukrainians fight every day for the right to live on their own land, for European values, for freedom, and for their own identity. Ivan Marchuk is the soul and the brush of Ukraine. Through his works, he vividly conveys the code of the Ukrainian nation, its strength of spirit, and its thirst for life. Therefore, it was very important, symbolic, and honorable for us to present this exhibition precisely on the eve of Independence Day – the most significant of our national holidays,” emphasizes Diana Popova, General Director of the Museum of the History of Kyiv.
Fifteen cycles of the artist – fifteen different Marchuks in a single museum space. The exhibition will feature over 180 paintings by this contemporary genius – meditative landscapes of Ukrainian villages, contemplative metaphors of the artist’s naked soul, real and fantastical flowers, abstract surrealism, spectacular expressions, unique plyontanist still lifes, and “blind” sketches.
The goal of the exhibition project “Ivan Marchuk. Cosmic Mystery of Life” is to trace who had the greatest influence on the artist’s work, what compelled him to make life-changing decisions, and why he never stopped creating even in difficult times of persecution and prohibition. After all, each painting by Ivan Marchuk contains his experiences and emotions: childhood and youth, the challenges of adult life, and all the feelings and sentiments of his great soul.
“I believe that the light ahead of us still exists, because evil cannot overcome good, and truth cannot be hidden by the ancient deceitful enemy. So, with Ukraine in our hearts, let us hold the front until Victory,” urges the artist Ivan Marchuk.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to see fascinating exhibits related to different episodes of the artist’s biography: photographs, sketches, personal belongings, a personalized stamp, all catalogs published since 1986, newspapers, magazines, posters, and more.
The works for the exhibition were provided by seven museums across Ukraine and over 20 private collectors. This collaboration allowed for a complete presentation of the artist’s well-known works, as well as those that had never before been shown to the general public.
“Ivan Marchuk is a master who has created his own artistic universe. His art possesses extraordinary power: it unites, inspires, and provokes reflection. It is invaluable that today each of us has the opportunity to immerse ourselves in his vision, feel the depth of his creativity, and find something special in his works for ourselves,” says Zoriana Pelekh, founder of Pelekh & Partners and ideologist of the brand ZP Law Office of Zoriana Pelekh.
General partner of the project – Law Office of Zoriana Pelekh
Supported by – Andriy Kratyuk and Tamara Strypko
The exhibition can be visited from August 7 according to the Museum’s working hours: