On March 30, a new project by Vladimir Semenskiy with the unexpected title «Anything Is Nothing» will open at 11.12 GALLERY. Here we do not offer any specific concept or interpretation in advance, but only try to request you for immersing yourselves in the artist's thoughts, and understand his contemplation in the process of working on this series.More information can be found at the QR-code at the exhibition.
Vladimir Semensky
The language of Vladimir Semensky's painting resembles traditional expressionism, but only externally, formally. The blurred images on the canvases resemble the outlines of real objects, but lack their usual outlines and approach either abstraction or lyrical sketches in the spirit of early Alexander Labas. Semensky takes things from the surrounding world as the basis for each image, but conventionally conveys them. Not caring about naturalism, but allowing the paints to flow freely on the canvas and solidify into forms that have not been touched in the most literal sense by the draughtsman's brush.
In his latest series of works, Practices of Contemplation, Vladimir Semensky works almost on the verge of figurative and abstract painting. Working away from concrete objects in the outer world, the artist transfers their images onto the thin material of the canvas, allowing the paints themselves to flow and fill the necessary space. Materiality disappears, there is no need to "guess" the content, the aspect of abstract perception comes to the fore. Pictoriality becomes only a subtle hint, appealing to the inner mood of each viewer. Just as the artist deliberately "rejects" the task of copying the surrounding reality, so too must we give preference to our senses rather than to reason. Someone may see allusions to Japanese landscapes of the Kano school or traditional Chinese compositions of Shanshui, and someone may feel similarity to the lighted film photographs of the beginning of the last century. Vladimir Semensky's works do not put the viewer in an uncomfortable position, forcing them to unravel and cognize their secret meaning, they just offer to observe and enjoy contemplation, without being distracted by the turbulent shell of the outside world.
The artist lives and works in Sevastopol.
Open Studios
Free of Charge 
Starts at 10:00 