Velvet Amazons. Kirisenko Art Center

From April 13 to May 18, the new exhibition space of the Kirisenko Art Center will present the group project Velvet Amazons. This is an art project by the artist Andrii Dudchenko in collaboration with the masters of artistic embroidery Victoria Megalatii, Nadiya Sikula and Kateryna Shapovalova. From ancient Greece to personal allusions to Crimea, this exhibition combines epic and contemporary irony, creating a mystical space of archetypal play.

The opening of the Velvet Amazons project is a continuation of the presentation of unique art projects presented in the recently opened exhibition space of the Kirisenko Art Center. In the future, all exhibition projects will be presented in this space.

In times of terrible tragedies, trials, and a permanent struggle for existence, the boundaries between the past and the future are blurred. War reveals archetypal images of resistance, forcing us to rethink our own history and deeply rooted cultural codes. It sharpens perception, makes symbols more expressive and myths more alive. Modern challenges are reflected in ancient narratives, and the figure of the warrior woman is becoming more relevant than ever.

This project is a mosaic of feelings, a game in which art combines irony, self-irony, and childhood fascination with myths. It is a labyrinth that leads from memories of ancient Greece to personal allusions to Crimea and the heroes of Homer's Iliad. It brings to life the warlike Amazons led by Hippolyta, women who are in an eternal struggle with their antagonists.

The project was made possible thanks to a unique collaboration with the graduates of the Boychuk Academy, artistic embroidery masters Victoria Megalatii, Nadiya Sikula and Kateryna Shapovalova. Their works became a kind of emanation of Andrii Dudchenko's series of mosaics "Hunting for Actaeon", which was realized as part of the Boychuk Fest in 2024.