Mykola Matsenko «Neofolk»

In "Neofolk" project Mykola Matsenko turns to the fundamental structure of the folk art, sacred and unifying. Rethinking folklore, the artist interprets the attributes of national existence, actualizes the deep layers of the collective consciousness that lie far deeper than the concept of "national". The art here is one of the most important tools in the search for one's identity, the position of the individual and the community in the global coordinate system.

"The folk art is very simple and clear. It is perceived at the primary level and does not require explanation. This project is not an attempt to adapt the ancient times to the present. This is a demonstration of authenticity not as archaic, but as a contemporary art in the continuous flow of the creative process of our nation...

As a representative of my people, who are running after the departing train of self-determined nations, while getting tangled in their awkward anachronistic wide trousers and stumbling over the historical stones of the platform, as much as I’d wanted to throw off the heavy and bulky backpack of traditions, I can not do this, fearing to find myself on the train without a ticket, money and passport." (Mykola Matsenko)

In the meditative "Neofolk" series color variations are built around a single structural unit, folklore motifs acquire a new form, consonant with the present, traditional patterns take on a new life, revealing their original meanings, which are independent of time and therefore can not lose relevance. In concise and, at the same time, rich in color mosaic an infinite number of combinations is possible, each of which appears harmonious due to the method of work with color selected by artist.

Natalia Matsenko