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Katya Bondarec - Fragile
This series is a meditation on the fragility of our world. The conflict in Ukraine has become the jumping off point for Katya; however, she quickly realized that the problem was much broader. On the one hand this collection reflects on the way humans treat the world around them, the destructive power of nature, and how easily this bubble can pop. On the other hand there is a world within each one of us, it too, has to be treated with care and respected by others no matter what it is or how a person decides to project themselves.
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All works were created in late May - early June of 2022. Two months after the beginning of the war.
Katya was born in the town of Sarny in western Ukraine close to the border with Poland and Belarus and at the age of five she moved to Krivyy Rih - a giant metallurgical hub in central Ukraine. For several years she has been a professional puppet designer and maker and a bit later she started painting as well as creating collages. When the war began Katya could flee west, but decided to stay put. In her words: she didn’t want to take up anybody else’s place and because her son and husband were not able to leave due to the military draft.
Like many others, in the beginning Katya was in shock and only after a month was able to pick up the phone and found a new outlet - digital collage. Now, she draws inspiration in the everyday news and spiritual and cultural symbolism. She uses the process of creation as an escape, where she can look beyond the horrors of the war, reinterpret the world around her, and show it in a new and unexpected way. Fragile series of works is this attempt.
Death Star
digital collage, 15.7 x 11.8 in​
What is given to you as a gift in reality can be an instrument of control. You won’t even notice how you changed sides.
Obedience
digital collage, 15.7 x 11.8 in​
Horrible things are done in the name of peace and salvation. You are not unique to the hand that claims to guide you, most of the time you are just used up and substituted with a new unit.
Poor Yorick
digital collage, 15.7 x 11.8 in​
In Hamlet, Yorick’s skull became a symbol of fleeting youth and inevitability of death. No matter how many times Darth Vader was able to cheat death he also eventually met his end. His world collapsed around him.
Peaceful Bubble
digital collage, 15.7 x 11.8 in​
A dove as a symbol of peace is “protected” by the bubble. A hand above is an intruder that is poised to destroy a delicate balance and peace inside.
​Inner Touch
digital collage, 15.7 x 11.8 in​
Several different worlds can peacefully coexist within all of us as long as you are able to strike a balance and hold them closely and gently.
Destroyed From The Inside
digital collage, 15.7 x 11.8 in​
On the outside, beyond the borders of our personal bubble, we can be perfectly fine and intact, but on the inside we are destroyed and yearning for help.
Just Touch
digital collage, 15.7 x 11.8 in​
Maybe a person was comfortable inside their bubble. By breaking it you might catch a feather of their soul in your hands, but if you mishandle it - be ready to be responsible.
Hold Firmly
digital collage, 15.7 x 11.8 in​
Hold on to what you have firmly, but don’t be aggressive, otherwise it might slip out or worse - pop and be gone forever.
Touch
digital collage, 15.7 x 11.8 in​
Always be gentle and respectful when touching other worlds and other people, regardless of how big or small they are.
Inner World
digital collage, 15.7 x 11.8 in​
A person inside is trying to strike a balance between their inner peace and an attempt to make themselves available to new experiences and risks without losing their own world.
About the creator of the Conflicted Art project:
Yevgen Nemchenko came to the United States from Ukraine 20 years ago. He has been an art and antiques collector for over 10 years focusing primarily on local and American art. However, when the invasion happened, he felt he had to help the situation in the only meaningful way he could. Yevgen used his network in the Ukrainian art world to purchase a number of works with the goal of helping artists personally and giving them and their work more global exposure. Doing so would encourage a way of looking beyond the often hyper-visual, dehumanizing, and sensationalist media pieces, but instead to look at Ukraine and the wider context of the war through the humanity, creativity, and personal stories coming of Ukrainian artists. Yevgen would like to thank his wife Kristina for her constant encouragement and support throughout this project, his longtime friend, Oleg V., for helping with graphic design and sharing in the costs, as well as a good friend, James Gregg, for his academic eye and editing.