FLOWER

This joint project by artists Vika Ostrenko and Marta Andrusenko is built on the sensitivity of two very different, even opposite in character, women. It reflects their visions of beauty and what they allow themselves in life under the pressure of societal expectations and dogmas.

Viktoriia Ostrenko depicts a woman who possesses beauty, social responsibilities, and imperfections. She is aware of her imperfections, values them, and enjoys them despite societal pressure. These flaws are manifested both in her actions and in her body, reflecting our weaknesses, which are not exclusive to women.

Marta Andrusenko divides the world into black and white—what is allowed and what is not—condemning herself for mistakes not yet made and fearing to enjoy the world and herself. Hiding behind the beauty of flowers and the uncertainty of abstract forms, she reflects and studies herself in the process of creation. This is her safe zone of freedom and passion, where it is difficult for the viewer to judge her because she controls the process and the extent of penetration into herself through the manifestation in art. The artist subconsciously hides herself and her characters in a kind of fantastical, bright, and colorful garden.
The artists present works in the exhibition created using mixed techniques, incorporating elements of painting, appliqué, and collage.

Vika Ostrenko: “I wanted to slow down a bit, to make Marta’s geometry and colors more tranquil, so I included static, soft-formed women in the exhibition. This demonstrates to the viewer the diversity of the female essence and beauty.”

Marta Andrusenko: “The faces created by Vika inspired me to create a series of portraits. They reflect the desire and necessity to ‘wear masks’ to please, to look better than we are, in our own vision or in the eyes of others. There is also a desire to be bright individuals, interesting personalities, aesthetically appealing figures. But if you look closely at these portraits, you can feel that there is something more, something different behind the ‘cover’…”

FLOWER by Vika Ostrenko and Marta Andrusenko boldly and candidly opens up the worlds of the artists, allowing us to feel their weaknesses, anxieties, joys of existence, and the pursuit of harmony, which is so lacking in our time.