Essen, 9.9.2022 – In the series 6 ½ weeks, the Museum Folkwang is showing the group exhibition What is depicted here? (15 September – 30 October 2022) by the Ukrainian artist collective Asortymentna Kimnata (Assortment Room). The works of the 17 artists from the fields of painting, sculpture, photography and video deal with current events in Ukraine and are accompanied by an immersive text installation. The opening event, 6:30 p.m., on Friday, 16 September, from 6.30 p.m., will feature an artist talk with the artists.
Image above: Lesia Khomenko Untitled, 2022 © Lesia Khomenko
The exhibition What is depicted here? documents the artistic practice of the self-organised artist collective Asortymentna Kimnata from Ivano Frankivsk in western Ukraine. The artist and curator Lesia Khomenko founded the collective at the beginning of the Russian war of aggression. It was a place of retreat for artists who had to flee from embattled areas but wanted to stay in Ukraine. Currently, 17 artists are part of the collective in Ivano Frankivsk and other places in western Ukraine. The expansive works in the presentation reflect the current war situation as well as the living conditions of the artists. The exhibition is thus both an artistic statement and a collective sign of resistance.
The work Untitled by the artist and fashion designer Yaroslava-Maria Khomenko shows a textile object composed of various jerseys created from damaged pieces of clothing. In view of the destruction of war, Khomenko thus formulates the demand and hope that a new world will be rebuilt from its remains. Zhanna Kadyrova’s and Denis Ruban’s sculpture Palyanytsia, made of river stone, is reminiscent of sliced bread. The work not only stands for a traditional Ukrainian pastry, but has also become a sign that helps to distinguish friends from enemies: Russian speakers pronounce the word differently. In her artistic work, Lesia Khomenko is primarily concerned with different ways of seeing and representing war. She collects photos of soldiers whose faces have been digitally rendered unrecognisable by various means. The artist transfers the digital visual language of the found photos into painting and thus establishes a reference to the historical representation of war.
The exhibition format 6 ½ weeks is based on short-term planning and offers young artists the opportunity to present their works at the Museum Folkwang. It creates space for artistic and curatorial experiments and enables visitors to discover as yet unknown artists from different countries. 6 ½ Weeks is sponsored by the Stiftung Kunst, Kultur und Soziales der Sparda-Bank West.
WHEN?
Exhibition dates: Thursday, 15 September until Sunday, 30 October
Vernissage: Friday, 16 September 18.30
COSTS?
Entrance free
WHERE?
Museum Folkwang
Museumsplatz 1
45128 Essen
