Art by Alexander Klymenko manifests "Joy of Being" (02/08/04)

Art by Alexander Klymenko manifests "Joy of Being"

NEW YORK - The art of Alexander Klymenko of Kyiv was unveiled at the Ukrainian Institute of America's third art opening of the season on November 20, 2003.

More than 70 art buffs gathered on the institute's beautifully restored third floor to nibble cheese and sip wine, as they browsed Mr. Klymenko's works, listening to the soothing sounds of Sting's explorations of Eastern music.

Mr. Klymenko brought more than 40 large canvasses over from Kyiv. His works are exceptionally bright and explore the interaction of primary colors or their fluorescent cousins in geometrically abstract mosaics that look like bowls of candy, painted pebbles, pysanky laid flat and patchwork quilts. Elsewhere, his subjects appear to be Japanese letters transforming into birds as they fly through clouds and bursts of sunshine.

Mr. Klymenko admitted that he draws inspiration from Gustav Klimt's modernist mosaics. Mr. Klymenko exhibited at Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum in 2001, where Klimt decorated the walls a century ago. "I enjoy Klimt and share his principle - my works are decorative and ornamental."

Also a poet and philosopher, Mr. Klymenko says his art is part of an "intellectual program" he calls "New Ethic Ecology" whose goals are humanism, creation and optimism.

Mr. Klymenko's artwork made its New York debut in June 2003, during the silent auction of the "Because Life is Beautiful" breast cancer awareness fund-raiser held at the Institute. His artwork made such an impact that the institute decided to help organize the solo exhibit.

Speaking at the exhibit opening, Walter Hoydysh, director of programs at the Ukrainian Institute of America, the institute's ongoing plans of bringing prominent artists from Ukraine directly to New York's Museum Mile. Special thanks were expressed to Mykola Kravets, the U.S. country manager for Ukraine's Aerosvit Airlines, for transporting the exhibit from Kyiv to New York free of charge.

This was the first foray to North America for this artist, born in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk. His works can be found in public and private collections worldwide, including Ukraine, the United States, Russia, Israel, Switzerland, England, France, Germany and Austria. He has participated in several international exhibitions, including Pierre Cardin's "Mysteries of Eurasia."

Mr. Klymenko's "Joy of Being" exhibition remained on view at the institute through January 8.

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