Shcherbenko Art Centre

POLITICAL ANATOMY. VERSION
GALLERY 91, FRANKFURT, GERMANY
02/21 – 03/20/2024

The exhibition “Political Anatomy. Version” by Vlada Ralko will take place at Gallery 91 in Frankfurt, Germany, from February 21 to March 20, 2024.

«Political Anatomy. Version» by Vlada Ralko is a continuation of the artist’s work on a project started during her residency in Poznań as part of the «Wielka 19” Association program. The project was first presented at the Art Arsenal in Poznań, Poland, in 2023, featuring works by Vlada Ralko and artist Volodymyr Budnikov.

The title of the exhibition encapsulates the key elements of its concept: «Anatomy studies the living through the dissection of the dead. A person, in their political nature, is not only a construction of functional organs but also a symbolic figure, whose internal processes are governed not only by biology but also reflect political laws,» the artist notes.

In the «Political Anatomy. Version» project, Ralko continues to focus on existential questions of identity: «To some extent, this is a religious project that questions where a person remains a person and where they cease to be one, where their life begins and ends.» These focuses are especially intensified during war, when the value of life is clearly defined by the boundaries of recognizing its meaning, and «every movement is actually a question of life and death.»

The exhibition includes a series of paintings and graphics where the artist explores the relationship between the personal and political, the bodily and social. Ralko uses her art as a means to investigate and critically reflect on the horrors of violence, loss, pain, deprivation, and suffering caused by war. She draws attention to the necessity of recognizing one’s place in the world and the significance of choosing one’s path in life. The artist emphasizes that the cost of living a «purely biological, infantile life» is high. War, like an ocean wave, inevitably catches up with everyone, anywhere in the world.

The exhibition curator, Marina Shcherbenko, notes: «Vlada Ralko’s works are not just artistic expressions but complex visual essays that penetrate into the depths of the human soul and reflect the impact of global conflicts on an individual level. She exposes all our most painful and vulnerable spots, without pity or tolerance. Instantly, the whole body is showered with prickling dots from the inside, which move swiftly through all muscles; the brain explodes from the realization of humanity’s cruelty and its inevitable self-destruction when you immerse into the senses of Vlada’s works.»

In Frankfurt am Main, the «Political Anatomy. Version» exhibition will be hosted by 91 galerie, a non-commercial contemporary art initiative of «Perspektive Ukraine e.V.» association, supported by Massif Central Projektgesellschaft mbH. The mission of Gallery 91 is to promote contemporary Ukrainian art and culture and to support the dialog between the Ukrainian and German art scenes. Through this, Gallery 91 intends to lay the foundation for sustainable discussions and collaborations in the future.

Exhibition opening hours: 14:00–19:00 Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and by appointment on other days. The exhibition is closed on Fridays.

The «Political Anatomy. Version» exhibition in Frankfurt am Main is realized by Shcherbenko Art Centre in partnership with 91 galerie. The exhibition is supported by the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt.

Shcherbenko Art Centre was created by Ukrainian curator Maryna Shcherbenko. The aim of the centre is to create opportunities for dialogue between the art world and a broad audience. Shcherbenko Art Centre arranges the exhibitions and works as a venue for lectures, panel discussions, workshops with leading masters of contemporary art in Ukraine and other countries.