Collection: Igor Konovalov

 

Born in 1965 in the city of Novy Bug.

1983—1987 — Dnipropetrovsk State Art School.

1987—1993 — Kyiv State Art Institute.

Since 1993, co-founder of the art commune “Squat on Olegivska Street”, whose activity has two periods:

1993—1996 — “classical squat” (seizure of premises for workshops and housing, exhibition activity, as a practice of introduction into society).

1996-2006 — “fictitious squat” (author of the project — Fiction Gallery Expedition. — going beyond the boundaries of workshops and galleries (institutions) into the open urban space.

Founder of the Hill-art movement (art on the hills), within the framework of which actions were held and objects were created on the hills of Kyiv.

2010-2020 — develops an author's mythology, which he called “Infodelika”.

Creator of paintings, actions, objects and video art.

Lives and works in Kyiv.

The group of artists “Squat on Olegivska”, whose members include Konovalov Igor, was a non-commercialized view of art and demonstrated an innovative approach to interpreting modern processes in society.
They were called “Satanists” and “prophets”, the founders of original Ukrainian postmodernism and exhibitionists hiding from the press, who change the landscapes around them – leveling the concepts of museums and galleries, artists who demonstrate indifference to the cynical spirit of the times.
This movement, which was formed in the early 90s amid the noise of the excitement of time and uncertainty about the future – left bright strokes in the history of Ukrainian painting. Bright performances and flash mobs, marginal actions and protection of society, painting full of eroticism and indifference to the statute, the collapse of walls and the expansion of the framework of the traditional space for art.
The main content and essence of Igor Konovalov's work is the sphere of communications in modern societies.
For two decades, the artist has been researching and visualizing the processes of interaction between man and art, as well as the powerful influence of information flows on society.
Igor Konovalov notes the existence of invisible and rapid particles of information in the modern space. These particles transmit an infinite and unique in their speed digital data flow that has conquered the whole world. Never before has humanity had such instant information transmission.
The artist offers the viewer to see modern information particles in the form of "bunnies" - fast in reproduction and rapid in their distribution. Their moving images have filled the entire space of the life of a modern person.
The artist's painting is distinguished by exquisite harmony. Igor Konovalov perfectly masters the magic of color, using the entire spectrum of modern pigments, creating on canvases rich contrasts and the most subtle nuances of color combinations.
Currently, the information intervention is ongoing. But Igor Konovalov's "bunnies" bring light and joy, since the right to choose information remains with the person.

According to the artist:
In my works, I want to photograph the world as I see it, as I want to see it, but sometimes it is as it can never be.
The image of what I write does not just appear, but knocks on the back of the head and drives me to the studio.
Beauty is ducks in a pond and monkeys on palm trees, but they turn into other images and so on endlessly.
I dream that one day I will see the earth from Space.

EXHIBITIONS

Solo exhibitions:

2020 - Rest room, Museum of the History of Kyiv, Kyiv

2019 - "Voices", Soviart Center, Kyiv

2018 - "Two pages", Museum of the History of Kyiv, Kyiv

2017 - "Foothold", Soviart Center, Kyiv

2016 - "Presidency", Soviart Center, Kyiv

2016 - "Relax", Soviart Center, Kyiv

2015 - "Wi-Fi", DTEK Academy, Eurasia Business Center, Kyiv

2013 - "Infa&infadelika", 8-bit Gallery, Kyiv

2012 - "Infa", Gallery "Forest", Moscow, Russia

2011 - "Infa", RA Gallery, Kyiv

2010 - Konovalov I., Museum of Contemporary Art of Art of Ukraine (MSIIU), Kyiv

2009 – “Golden Mountains”, RA Gallery, Kyiv

2008 - Ctrl-Z, RA Gallery, Kyiv

Group exhibitions:

2020 – ART CAPITAL, Grand Palais, Paris. Salon Comparaisons, groupe Alain Campello

2017 - “Squat on Olegivska Street”, Sumy Municipal Gallery, Sumy

2015 – Museum Collection, Ukrainian Contemporary Art. (1985-2015)

2015 – “Independence Factor” (America House), Kyiv

2015 – “Art for Life” – charity project, “Mystetskyi Arsenal”, Kyiv

2014 - The 21st nude art exhibition “MAN & WOMAN”, At the Museum of New Art, Pärnu, Estonia

2012 - “Squat on Olegivska”, M17 Center for Contemporary Art, Kyiv

2012 - Art-Moscow, 16th International Art Fair, Moscow, Russia

2011 – “Independents”, New Art of a New Country 1991-2011, “Mystetskyi Arsenal”, Kyiv

2011 – “Space Odyssey-2011”, “Mystetskyi Arsenal”, Kyiv

2010 - Art-project “OUT” – international art project, Chocolate House, Kyiv

Press:

• Catalog for the solo exhibition: Konovalov I., Museum of Contemporary Fine Art of Ukraine (MCFIU), «Infa», Gallery "Lis"

• Book «Squat on Olegivska Street» (1993 – 2015), Kyiv

• Collection of the Museum of Ukrainian Contemporary Art 1985–2015 from private collections

25 years of presence. Contemporary Ukrainian artists. 1991-2016, Kyiv

• Collection of catalogs of participation in numerous exhibitions and auctions

Works are located in:

• Dnipropetrovsk Art Museum

• Museum of Contemporary Fine Art of Ukraine (MCFIU)

• Museum of History of Kyiv

• In private collections: Borys and Tatyana Hrynevyh, Igor Voronov, Igor Abramovich, Oleg Krasnosilsky, Volodymyr Kashyrskyi, etc.