Iryna Maksymova
MY NAME IS IRYNA MAKSYMOVA AND I AM A UKRAINIAN FEMALE ARTIST WORKING IN THE FIELD OF CONTEMPORARY FIGURATIVE ART. I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ART IN GENERAL AND ITS SUPER POWERS. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY IRYNA MAKSYMOVA PAGE 90 HORSES ARE FREE 2022 PAGE 91 HOURS 2022 STARRING @MAKSYMOVA.ART WWW.MAKSYMOVA.ART LVIV UKRAINE
Through their work, artists can convey so many ideas, issues and meanings in a way that will not only define the artwork itself, but also give room for observers’ thoughts to overlap in order to create the final shape. And that is what I try to do in my works. With the help of colours, big formats, composition and themes, I try to convey meanings that are dear to me personally. The main motive in my works is around feminism in the context of women’s bodies, women in society and women’s power. I want to give them visibility, popularity and presence in the life of the observer.
Besides that, you can definitely spot a lot of animals in my artworks that are jumping around, gazing and dancing. I love animals, and want to give them an opportunity to stand up for their needs. I want them to have their rights heard. However, the most crucial issue I want to deliver today is the war in Ukraine. The war has split time into before and after, and the words to describe simply don’t exist. Silence is not possible and I stepped in, I wanted to show that in my artworks. Not via “war”, but by presenting brave and courageous Ukrainian people, ordinary people that do their best in life to help, to support and to win. I wanted to capture their immortal spirits, bright minds and passionate hearts, which are leading them through this war.
This year was very intense for me because of the war and all of the craziness going on in the world. But, in other terms it was very productive. I was lucky enough to take part in several group shows around the world, including in New York, Rome and Hong Kong. But the most exciting thing was to have my own solo show, in fact three of them, in London, Berlin and Lviv. All of them were dedicated to Ukraine, the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian traditions. And I couldn’t be more grateful to the audience for giving me an opportunity to introduce my country, my thoughts and ideas around the world. You gave me that superpower and I hope my artworks can drive change.
