One day, when I was laying on my back I suddenly opened my eyes and discovered
a very beautiful red tablecloth. It was made of thin Chinese silk and covered
with a multitude of wonderful images. There were little people wearing cone-like
hats, trees, mountains, birds and houses with cute curved roofs were my first
mind-blowing childhood impressions. I was laying there examining that tablecloth
in the anticipation of a moment when I could take-up pencil and paper. Apparently,
my first scrawls made some impression on the people around me; I started receiving
presents containing brushes and paint. The tablecloth soon disappered.
From that moment on our house was filled with piles of paper and pencil stubs.
Paint footprints and dirty spills could be seen everywhere.
Art classes were not the exclusive places where I used to draw in school. All my
notebooks were filled with drawings. That did not make my teachers very happy;
my parents even less. In addition, all cartoon portraits of teachers were ascribed
to me. I suffered unjustly. As a result I became more keen for justice.
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I began self-education. It consisted of private painting and drawing lessons, visits
to museums, and interactions with artists. Soviet Realism was the exclusively accepted
art form at the time. All attempts to show something new were condemned by the presiding
contemporary government. That political tactic brought non-conformist artists to organize
underground, so-called "apartment" exhibitions. Whoever was searching for something new,
something they could call their own, took part in those exhibitions. I was one of them.
"Perestroyka" gave me the opportunity to show legally for the first time. I was one
of the young artists showing at Kharkov Art Museum. We, the youth, having inhaled a breath
of "fresh air" wanted more. My friends, my family, and I decided to immigrate. Our decision
was not welcomed by the authorities. Months of rallies, hunger strikes, and arrests followed.
Eventually in 1989 the authorities gave-up and we were granted permission to leave our country.
The route to the US layed through Vienna and Rome. Now, I live in New York, I continue working,
actively participating in shows and artistic life.
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