Mihaïl Zablodski‏

Painter

Life Events

All is temporary and fleeting. Each following moment will never be the same. Everything constantly changes. Perception itself changes.

In the city bustle one can see more than just traffic, neon signs and crowds. Different weather conditions introduce life into the most mundane of places, which we usually don’t notice. After a rain the face of the city changes, fog blurs its shape. It’s a captured moment.

Like in the japanese style of mono no aware, what is perceived begets an impression of surrounding objects and patterns: compassion, empathy, sympathy directed at the object itself, the yearning of the soul for the eternal nature of things, the desire to grasp their meaning, which eludes human understanding. It’s a feeling of realization that beyond the shifting world there is eternity.

The natural world is precious not by itself, not as something isolated and separate from man, but as an object of aesthetic and philosophical/ethical experience. It’s that yearning of the soul for the eternal nature of things, the desire to grasp their meaning, which eludes human understanding.

Through color contrasts, ethereal outlines and forms, powerful brushstroke dynamic, we obtain the feeling of elusiveness. Buildings naturally change over long time periods, but even a temporary weather shift can alter our perception so much, that we feel like we’re in a completely different place.

In my paintings I show the things to which we seldom pay attention, like different weather conditions that introduce life into ordinary places, the ones we usually pass without noticing. Rain, snow, radiant sunlight and fog change the shapes, outlines and, of course, colors of the city, which we are used to perceiving as a static image.

I was most influenced by paintings of Gustav Klimt, James Whistler and Mikhail Vrubel. Their symbolism resonates with me, especially unique brushwork, which imitates the visual effect of mosaic art. Their art created the effect of a different reality, shrouded in mystery (Whistler’s foggy landscapes). This is what makes them similar to my paintings. I want to depict subjects as I ‘feel’ them. Colors both vivid and atmospheric are an essential part of this quest.

I was also influenced by impressionist artists, especially modern ones, such as Jeremy Mann. Jeremy mann is an example of a contemporary artist who takes what might be considered traditional techniques and mediums and gives them a fresh, modern twist. Dramatically and skillfully rendered, his cityscapes and figurative works give visual form to the emotive essence of modern life.

EDUCATION

 2010-2011 Kyiv Polytechnic University, Kyiv, Ukraine; Master of Arts, Graphic Art and Illustration. Courses included: oil painting, drawing, etching, digital illustration, commercial design, photography and animation.

2005-2009 Kyiv Polytechnic University, Kyiv, Ukraine; Bachelor of Arts. Courses included: oil painting, drawing, etching, digital illustration, commercial design, photography, animation, and history of art.

2009 Leonora Yakimaschenko oil painting course, 6 months. Still life, landscape and portrait in oil and watercolor.

2006-2009 – Anatoliy Tverdiy drawing course. Still life, nude and portrait in oil, watercolor, pencils and charcoal.

2004-2006 Art course in the Hall of Artist. Still life, nude and portrait in oil and watercolor.

2002-2005 Public Art School. Painting (gouache, watercolor, pastel), drawing (ink, pencils), illustrations (ink), sculpture.

EXHIBITIONS

2019 The Shadow of Dream

Group Exhibition, the 58th Venice Biennale

2018 «World cities»

Group Exhibition, GolfStream

Kiev, Ukraine

2018 series “Unknown»

Group Exhibition,

Burning Man Precompression

29 July 2016 – 5 November 2016

Group Exhibition, Art-arsenal gallery

The VI World festival ‘Book Arsenal’

Kiev, Ukraine

2016 Series of pastels «Girl in the cafe»

gallery Marion, Warsaw

2015 illustrations to fairy-tales.

Group Exhibition, Art-arsenal gallery

The V World festival ‘Book Arsenal’

2014 Illustrations to the Snow White

Group exhibition, Art-arsenal gallery

The IV World festival ‘Book Arsenal’

Kiev, Ukraine

2014   Magic pastel

Group exhibition, Freud house

Kyiv, Ukraine

2013  Middle East magic. Works Shedu and African angel

Group exhibition, Gogol Fest

Kyiv, Ukraine

2013  Exhibition of illustrations to science fiction books.

Solo Exhibition, Palace of Culture in Kharkiv

Kharkiv, Ukraine

2013  Illustrations

Group exhibition, Art-arsenal gallery

The III World festival ‘Book Arsenal’

2012   Stars. Expressionistic murals

Group exhibition, Gogol Fest

Kyiv, Ukraine

2012    FUTURE VINTAGE: TAZ’s Art Show & FRAMING FAIR

Group exhibition, Happenstance Gallery

London, United Kingdom

2012    Shedu

Solo Exhibition, St Sophia cathedral

Kyiv, Ukraine

2011   Impressionistic plain air

Group exhibition, Mytets

Kyiv, Ukraine

2009    Surrealistic landscapes

Solo Exhibition, art gallery-44

Kyiv, Ukraine

2008  Portraits

Solo Exhibition, Palace of Culture

Kiev, Ukraine

collections

Shedu (2009), pastel on tonal paper, 15×15 cm Private gallery (Kiev, Ukraine)

The Carpathian Mountains (2016), pastel on tonal paper, 21×29 cm Cyprus gallery (Cyprus)

In the garden (2017), pastel, 29×42 cm, Private gallery (Kiev, Ukraine)

Black swan. Ballerina (2015), paper, color pencils, watercolor, 21×29 cm, Private gallery (Kiev, Ukraine)

Napoleon Sparrow (2009), tonal paper, pencil, ink, 30x30cm, Happenstance gallery (London, UK)

Nereid (2015), ink, pencils, 10x15cm, Cyprus gallery (Cyprus)

Sunset (2015), pastel, 20×30 cm Private gallery (Moscow, Russia)

Rain in Kiev (2017), oil on board, 35x45cm, Private gallery (Brussel, Belgium)

Girl in the café (2015), pastel, 25x25cm, Private gallery (Hamburg, Germany)

Works held in private collections in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and the USA.

awards

FFF, the Fashion Film Festival, 2018, awarded 3rd place for an Animation

Comicbook Competition: Picture Gender Equality at UN Women and the EU Delegation in Ukraine, 2017, awarded 3rd place for comicbook

FFF, the Fashion Film Festival, 2017, awarded 3rd place for an Animation

Kiev City State art-school Competition, 2005, awarded 2nd place for academic drawing of European cathedrals

PROJECTS

2018 Burning Man Precompression, creating pictures and installations

2017-2018 «Metamorphosis of Dafna» photo project with Julia Pesha

2013 Gogol Fest, the creation of paintings and installations

2012 Gogol Fest, space decoration

2011 Ukrainian-Canadian project on the development of cities of Ukraine EBED, the creation of corporate identity

FILMOGRAPHY

2019 Gouache animation “Flight. II version”

2018 Watercolor animation “Jealousy Tango”

2017 Documentary film “Rediscovering Your Inner Self”

2017 Gouache animation “Flight. I version”

2017 Noir film about existentialism of Jean-Paul Sartre “Twilight of European Civilization” for the Pinchyk-art prize competition

Publications

2019 Comics “Muru. Part II”, Comic Factory Publishing House, Russia

2017 Comic Book “Muru”, Comic Factory Publishing House, Russia

2016 Graphic novel “Beyond”, Immortal Publishing, USA

2016 Graphic novel “Beyond”, Black Lion Publishing House, Ukraine

2014 The book “The Adventures of hedgehogs”, publishing house Cassiopeia, Ukraine

interview

• Article about me by UKRAINE ART NEWS  16/04/2018   https://ukraineartnews.com/news/inframe/zhivopis-vid-mihajla-zablodskogo-zacharovuje-svojim-koloritom
• Article about my new art-project “World Of Cities” by online arts magazine Arts Illustrated “mihail-zablodskiy-artist” 02/04/2018 http://www.artsillustrated.com/mihail-zablodski-world-of-cities-art/
• Artcile by online arts magazine Arts Illustrated “mihail-zablodskiy-artist” 12/09/2017
• http://www.artsillustrated.com/mihail-zablodskiy-artist/
• Article by journal Skaz “Художник Михайло Заблодський: «Немає ніяких табу» 2014.12.25 
•   http://skaz.net.ua/?act=post&id=255
• Interview by Spanish journal Guiarteytu “Michel Zablodskiy. Una obra llena de misterio…”16/07/2014  http://www.guiarteytu.com/2014/09/michel-zablodskiy-una-obra-llena-de.html
• Presentation on the radio Promin 12.05.2012
• Article by Rabochaya gazeta “Балуй, Колумб!»13.12.2011, № 220 of 13 December 2011 http://rg.kiev.ua/page5/article23202/
• Interview by journal Gloss “How to organize your first exhibition” 29 November 2011, 16:14 http://gloss.ua/story/expos/article/63487
• Interview by news.intv.ua “«От современного искусства веет холодом»” 28.01.2011, 15:32
• http://news.intv.ua/news/15673-mihail–zablodskiy–ot–sovremennogo–iskusstva–veet–holodom–28012011153200.html