New work today from many artists who are participating in the the mural program in Kiev called Art United Us. In the wake of war and threats of aggression and instability, it is admirable when an art program can be successful and project an aura of hope despite fears.
Innerfields for ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine. (photo © @dronarium)
Art United Us says they are committed to pursuing positive life-affirming goals and they ask the artists to create works that reinforce themes of peace and brotherhood/sisterhood. The murals in the city are primarily a beautification project and the areas that they appear in are naturally affected by their overall pleasant messages. Here are some of the newest ones.
Innerfields for ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine. (photo © @dronarium)
The Berlin based trio who call themselves Innerfields created this figurative piece where one person is there and the other is not, yet they are hugging. “Present” is the name of the multi-story painting and the authors remain vague about it’s possibly meanings, saying it “deals with desire and interpersonal relations.”
Certainly that arrow looks painful physically, but it may also be a metaphor for emotional pain.
Dourone for ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine. (photo © @dronarium)
Madrid based world traveler DOURONE brought his fantasy figurative portrait work to Kiev on his largest mural ever to promote “Fraternity,” he says. Our more honorable qualities of respect, freedom, and valuing diversity are being gradually eroded, says the artist in a statement.
“These aspects of life are being erased by other aspects like individualism and selfishness.” Perhaps fourteen floors of fraternity will help to re-focus viewers on our shared humanity and foster mutual respect.
Dourone for ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine. (photo © @dronarium)
Dourone for ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine. (photo © @dronarium)
Olivier Bonnard for ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine in collaboration with Artsynonym and Pangeaseed Foundation. (photo © @dronarium)
“This combines the role of Cossacks in the historical development of Ukraine and the consequences of human impact on the Black Sea,” says artist Olivier Bonnard, whose painting of a vase is in coordination with the organization named Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans. A peon to biodiversity, the deterioration of our seas and killing off of species is creating “dead zones’ where no animals can survive and the artist wants to draw attention to this.
Olivier Bonnard for ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine in collaboration with Artsynonym and Pangeaseed Foundation. (photo © @dronarium)
Ernesto Marenje for ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine. (photo © @dronarium)
Ernesto Marenje for ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine. (photo © @dronarium)
Dima Fatum. Detail. ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine. (photo © @dronarium)
Dima Fatumm for ArtUnitedUs in Kiev, Ukraine. (photo © @dronarium)
ArtUnitedUs is co-founded and curated by Geo Leros and Iryna Kanishcheva.