The Paintings Of Artem Rogovoi: Ukrainian Aesthetics Through The Prism Of Vienna Secession

Artem Rogovoi (b. 1988) is a Ukrainian artist from Kharkiv (Eastern Ukraine). His paintings, accomplished in the recognizable manner of Klimt (the artist uses gold), combine a modernist approach and native aesthetics (the images of sunflowers, fields, wicker fences with pottery, the stove, embroidered rushnyks (towels), and so on). The female nudity, which appears as the main motif of Rogovoi's images, is surrounded by intricate patterns similar to those in shunga pieces.

Fig. 2. Pears mosaic, 2016 (arts.in.ua)

Fig. 4. instagram.com

Fig. 5. Sunflower Sensation (instagram.com)

Fig. 6. Sleepy Flower (instagram.com)

Bio

In 2014, Artem Rogovoi graduated from the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Fine Arts as a specialist in restoring easel and monumental paintings. His primary artistic training Rogovoi received at the Kharkiv Art College, where he later worked as a teacher. The restoration studies allowed the artist to learn different painting techniques, such as yolk tempera, frescoes, and gilding, which, as he admits himself, made him feel free in terms of artistic self-expression. The artist claims that being a perfectionist, he "is constantly dissatisfied with his work and continually tries to improve upon each piece" (arcadiacontemporary.com). Besides female nudes, he also produces still lives and landscapes. His works regularly appear in the Arcadia Contemporary group exhibitions. This year, one of his pieces (fig. 3) is shown at Five And Under exposition, NY. Some of Rogovoi's paintings can also be seen on arts.in.ua. The artist has a Patreon account (rogovoiart) where you can support his creation.

Fig. 8. Warm Evening (arts.in.ua)

Fig. 9. The Red Sun (instagram.com)

Fig. 11. Autumn Touch (instagram.com)

Fig. 12. Beechwood songs (arts.in.ua)

Fig. 12a. Beechwood songs, detail (instagram.com)

Women's Summer

The themes of Rogovoi's art are rooted in the cycles of nature, which became the ground of folklore in general. His beauties are depicted with fruits symbolizing female fertility and the fertility of the soil. Many paintings refer to a certain season. ..

Moire about Rogovoi's seasonal work and examples in the extended version of this article that you can explore in our Premium section.

Click HERE for an article on the French Artist Joseph Kuhn-Régnier: The Eroticism of Merry Modern Pagan Times

Sources: arts.in.ua; arcadiacontemporary.com; instagram.com/p/ChP9MwLLLeo/