Oil painting Like catcher Igor Konovalov

№Kon 124

The oil painting on canvas titled "Like Catcher" presents a striking and whimsical composition, blending elements of surrealism and modern figurative art. The focal point of the painting is a young girl, captured from an unusual perspective—viewed from below as she leans forward, peering into the unknown. Her posture and the way her white dress billows in the air create a sense of curiosity, innocence, and movement, inviting viewers to step into a world that seems both dreamlike and playful. The girl's attire evokes a vintage or fairy-tale aesthetic. She wears a flowing, ruffled dress with soft folds and delicate shadows that suggest light fabric, moving as if caught in a gentle breeze. Her white tights and simple shoes emphasize the purity of childhood, while the contrasting blue blouse and belt add a pop of color, balancing the cool, muted tones of the background. The entire composition is bathed in an ethereal light, lending it an almost weightless quality. Surrounding the girl are small balloon-like creatures, floating in mid-air. These tiny, whimsical figures resemble animals or insects made of glossy, reflective material, their surfaces shimmering with hints of purple, pink, and blue. Their presence adds an element of fantasy to the painting, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. They appear to be drifting around the girl, perhaps reacting to her movement, as if she is attempting to catch or interact with them. The background consists of a smooth gradient of gray and blue, with soft, wispy clouds faintly visible in the upper portion. This simple yet atmospheric backdrop enhances the sense of depth and vastness, making it seem as if the girl is in a boundless, surreal space rather than a defined environment. The use of minimalistic surroundings directs the viewer’s attention to the figures and their interaction, emphasizing the theme of discovery.

*** ABOUT THIS PAINTING ***
* TITLE: "Like catcher"
* ARTISTS: Igor Konovalov
* SIZE: 120x100 cm/'47.24x39.37 inches'
* MEDIUM: oil, canvas
* HAND PAINTED: Original painting from our collection
* CONDITION: we tried to convey the maximum information with the help of photos about this product

About the artist: He was 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 Olehivska Street", the activity of which has two periods:

1993—1996 — "classic squat" (occupation 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 workshops and galleries (institutions) into open urban space.

The founder of the Hill-art direction (art on the hills), within the framework of which actions were held and facilities were created on the hills of Kyiv.

2010-2020 - develops the author's mythology, which he called "Infodelica".

The creator of paintings, promotions, objects and video art.

Lives and works in Kyiv.

EXHIBITIONS

Personal exhibitions:

2020 - Recreation room, Kyiv History Museum, Kyiv

2019 - "Voices", CSM "Soviart", Kyiv

2018 - "Two Pages", Kyiv History Museum, Kyiv

2017 - "Point of support", CSM "Soviart", Kyiv

2016 – "Presidency", CSM "Soviart", Kyiv

2016 - "Relax", CSM "Soviart", Kyiv

2015 – "Wi-Fi", DTEK Academy, business center "Eurasia", Kyiv

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

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

2011 - "Infa", RA Gallery, Kyiv

2010 – I. Konovalov, Museum of Sovr. image of Arts 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 Olehivska Street", Sumy Municipal Gallery, Sumy

2015 – Museum collections, Ukrainian modern art. (1985-2015)

2015 – "Coefficient of independence" (America House), Kyiv

2015 - "Art for the sake of life" - charity project, "Art Arsenal", Kyiv

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

2012 - "Squat on Olehivska Street", M17 Center of Contemporary Art, Kyiv

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

2011 - "Independents", New art of the new country 1991-2011, "Art Arsenal", Kyiv

2011 – "Space Odyssey-2011", "Art Arsenal", Kyiv

2010 - Art project "AUT" - international art project, Chocolate House, Kyiv

Press:

• Catalog for a personal exhibition: I. Konovalov, Museum of Modern Fine Arts of Ukraine (MSIIU), "Infa", "Forest" Gallery

• The book "Squat on Olehivska Street" (1993 - 2015), Kyiv

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

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

• Collection of catalogs of participation in numerous exhibitions and auctions

Works are located:

• Dnipropetrovsk Art Museum

• Museum of Modern Fine Arts of Ukraine (MSIIU)

• Kyiv History Museum

• In private meetings: Boris and Tetyana Hrynievych, Igor Voronov, Igor Abramovich, Oleg Krasnosilskyi, Volodymyr Kashirskyi, and others.