HARMONY THROUGH EXPRESSION: AN ANALYSIS OF IHOR KUZMENKO’S ARTISTIC OEUVRE

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive art-critical analysis of the creative oeuvre of the contemporary Ukrainian artist Ihor Kuzmenko, who is considered not only as a creator of aesthetic objects but also as a kind of cultural emissary representing the spirit of Ukrainian art in the international arena. The research is based on materials from the author’s personal interviews with the artist, an analysis of an exclusive photographic archive, and current data from domestic and international art galleries. The author traces the artist’s professional development in detail, with the main focus of the study placed on the evolution of I. Kuzmenko’s artistic style and the genre typology of his paintings. Several key stages in the development of his personal style are identified. The central object of the analysis is landscape painting, which has become the dominant vector in the artist’s mature work. A detailed and structured classification of I. Kuzmenko’s landscapes is proposed: seascapes, industrial landscapes, urban landscapes, etc. The largest group identified is rural landscapes, which, in turn, are differentiated into contemporary natural (en plein air) and anthropogenic, as well as historical views featuring traditional Ukrainian architecture. Special emphasis is placed on conceptual series of paintings that underscore the artist’s profound interest in liminal, transitional states of lighting and weather conditions. The article thoroughly investigates the technical and technological features of I. Kuzmenko’s painting manner, his conscious transition from traditional oil paints to acrylics, his active use of textured primers, and his work with flat brushes and palette knives using the alla prima technique. A substantiated conclusion is drawn that Ihor Kuzmenko’s art has evolved from universal academism to a deeply individual signature style that absorbs the traditions and narratives of Ukrainian art, consistently finding an emotional resonance with the viewer.