Born 1999 in Kiev, Ukraine. Video art.
When the pandemic began, I was delighted.
Evhenii Bekusov
The fact that no matter what happens in the world, life rages in the midst of chaos and tragedies, and beauty can be seen in everything and always.
Young artists have nowhere to exhibit their art. The opportunities are getting smaller. Culture is taking a heavy toll. There are already cases among my colleagues that they organize secret exhibitions at home or in workshops. This is reminiscent of exhibitions of non-conformist art in the USSR.
During a pandemic, the art world is transforming. Online exhibitions, online museums, cultural events, etc. have appeared. And Ukraine is no exception. Yes, life continues, alternative ways of showing art appear, but taking on new forms, the exhibition space, at the same time, loses important features and qualities.
During the pandemic, physical exhibitions are held in Ukraine, but periodic restrictions or lockdowns suddenly disrupt the opening of the exhibition and the visit. Such situations negatively affect the position of artists and institutions. Over the past year, a lot of galleries, art spaces and projects have closed in Ukraine. Many large institutions have been threatened by economic problems. Young artists have nowhere to exhibit their art. The opportunities are getting smaller. Culture is taking a heavy toll. There are already cases among my colleagues that they organize secret exhibitions at home or in workshops. This is reminiscent of exhibitions of non-conformist art in the USSR. Parallels are viewed.
When something is forbidden and there is chaos around – in the environment of “living for today” culture develops very well. It is possible that in the future, physical exhibitions will go underground. I find it interesting and romantic. This is not to say that going online is bad. But, at the same time, we lose a lot.
When the pandemic began, I was delighted. I didn’t have to go to university. There was an opportunity to read a lot, go to the forest, live outside the city, be alone and not in a hurry. This is how the quarantine began. I didn’t know what would happen next, but it didn’t interest me, And life, as always, began to take unexpected forms and turns of events. Many interesting experiences. In the summer I graduated from the Kiev Academy of Media Arts, did my thesis, started looking for a job, worked in video production. Found the love of my life. In general, there were so many striking events in a year that did not happen in ordinary years before the pandemic. Paradox.
I have changed, I have grown very quickly. I became more independent and more responsible. I learned to appreciate the life of loved ones and take care of them. Revised my social circle and improved it. Began to be more engaged in art.
So there is only one thing to say: Thank you ! I hope the time of change, the time of the pandemic, has made people’s lives better and deeper and changed them, not just me.
«Wait not long» In this work, I reflect on the cyclical nature of actions in human life. The work was created during quarantine and in this context, the problem is exacerbated. The agonizing expectation of the future devalues and deprives us of the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the present moment and enjoy the beauty in the details of the current life. Observation and concentration are scattered in the desire to quickly get away from the present in the hope of the future. But due to the cyclical nature of actions leading to literal flight, the result does not lead to the expected satisfaction. A call to the future, but there is a noise in the receiver. And nostalgia is becoming an alternative.
Art project #365daysafter