“A romantic of Kinburnska spit”

“A romantic of Kinburnska spit” is the title of seascape artist Volodymyr Zebek’s exhibit which has been launched in Mykolaiv’s Museum of Shipbuilding and Fleet. The exhibit displays 28 unique works preserved in private collections of Mykolaiv residents. According to Halyna Tretiakova, head of the scientific-educational sector of the museum, the title is not accidental: “It shows works of our fellow townsman Volodymyr Zebek who has been residing and working on Kinburnska spit for over 50 years, most of his life.”

The hard fate – his father died of starvation in the 1930s, and Volodymyr with his sister were raised in an orphanage – had an imprint on the artist’s creative work. As a little child, Zebek felt painful loneliness, which he has preserved through his whole life. His works are unique.

The organic style of the artist’s works cannot be interpreted in a stereotypical way. A wizard of seascapes, a passionate singer of two powerful elements, the sky and the sea, he has been for his whole life struggling with the riddle of wonderful magic of the sky and water. The subtlest tones of the rays of the sunset and dawn, moon shine, reflected in the calm water, struggle of the elements and their peaceful harmony – they are all within the power of his magic brush.

“Zebek’s mystic perception of the world and expressing his worldview is unique. One can see in his canvases shining steppe, Madonnas, fishermen, and lonely ships. For the most part, it’s a lonely ship in the stormy element of the sea. And surely he depicts a strange sea, strange as his life,” says Tretiakova admiringly. Whereas collectors from around the world dream of buying the master’s paintings, all citizens can feast their eyes on the works presented at Mykolaiv exhibit.