Vitaliy Matukhno

The beginning of the pandemic for me was comparable to the beginning of hostilities in my city, because my life was again divided into “before and after”. However, the reason for this was not only a global tragedy. At that time, I was experiencing my personal loss and so far, the main disappointment. After four years of relationship with my girlfriend, I was left with complete disappointment in the concept of love and trust, also in my close circle of people, which I considered one of the few bright spots in my life. And speaking of disappointment, I rather recall a manic psychosis and permanent panic attacks – the only thing that my “beloved” left me in memory, along with a whole book of things that need to be forgotten.

Slowly going crazy in my house, without the opportunity to go out into society because of the pandemic, I began to engage in creativity in order to somehow start to heal my mind. Glitch art became my favorite in this, from the photos that remained from these four years of relationship, I began to prepare my first exhibition, in which I was more trying to get rid of memories and hatred, simultaneously reflecting on the themes of isolation and loneliness.

My path as an artist began only during a pandemic, only then against the background of a world tragedy, a war that has been going on for several years and personal loss, I began to devote more time to myself and my old ideas, trying to isolate myself from both external factors and internal – to find peace.

The first exhibition where my work was presented was organized by me. In fact, this was the first exhibition in the project ” Gareleya Neotdroesh “, which has just begun to emerge. Because of “Gareleya” I began to be more interested in various forms of art and try to develop in different directions, since the pandemic often shut me at home, although during the organization of the “PLAN B” festival I fell ill with COVID-19, which was the worst experience in my life.

I began to explore more places where there are no people, various abandoned spaces. In one of these objects, I found a preserved photographic film from a person who has long been dead. From this film started my obsession with analogue photography. If it had not been for the pandemic and the events that happened to it, I would not have attempted to become an artist. I don’t know how well I’m doing. But now I don’t feel anything. And this is the best feeling I’ve ever had.