Transparent art
9th Biennial of Chamber Watercolor opened in Simferopol Art Museum
Nearly 80 artists from Ukraine and Poland took part in the biennial and about 300 art works were presented there. Watercolor is a quite difficult technique, which requires an artist to work with a steady hand and be able to convey the ease of the feeling of the moment. Transparency is the main feature of watercolor paintings. Radically different paintings were presented at the biennial: from traditional landscapes and still lifes to portraits and ex-perimental work. Artists are experimenting with paper, soak it in water and form relief and then apply paint on top of it. You can see patterns and ornaments on some of the paintings.
“All my life I painted portraits in watercolor. It is not difficult, it comes from the soul: you just need to take a brush and enter a special emotional state, trans,” said Svitlana SAVELIEVA, portrait painter. “When you paint, you, first of all, love your nature, but you have to understand and accept it. I both paint and write poetry: something comes up inside of me and then I create a poem or an image.”
In the opinion of the visitors of the exhibition, we can speak about the Crimean School of Watercolor Painting, Crimean traditions in painting because famous artists lived and worked here at different time, they were inspired by the local nature and people. There are many paintings that depict Crimean topics.
The Biennial is open not only for experienced artists, but also for those, who are beginning their artistic career, because exhibitions are essential in the process of formation of artist’s personality. For example, Feodosia-based watercolorist Volodymyr KIRKEVYCH, who participated in all biennials organized in the Crimea, is proud that this year’s exhibition includes paintings of his students.
“When compared to the last year’s exhibition, the number of art works presented at the biennial this year has increased, artists have noticeably improved their techniques. There are pretty strong and interesting works, you can clearly see the author’s style in them and it defines true quality,” noted Valerii KOLBASOV, member of the jury, Honored Artist of Ukraine and the Crimea, director of the Crimean branch of the National Academy of Fine Arts.
The ultimate essence of the exhibition is the collaboration between a creator and audience. All visitors of the biennial can express their opinions and vote for a painting that they liked the most. Following the vote, the artists will receive the Audience Choice Award. The results will be announced on December 15. The jury will consist of Ukrainian artists and also researchers from Simferopol Art Museum. Winners will receive certificates of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree, Grand Prix, and Audience Choice Award. A lottery will be held at the closing ceremony in which the visitors, who voted for the watercolor painting they liked, will receive a gift of a painting from the prize pool.
