Still lifes and landscapes by Belik exhibited at Ukrainian Institute

NEW YORK - From October 29, 2003, through January 30, the Ukrainian Institute of America hosted Sergei Belik's exhibit of still lifes and landscapes.

At the opening reception, 48 large format works adorned the walls of the institute's second floor, as an equal number of visitors enjoyed some wine and a chance to meet the award-winning artist from Odesa.

Mr. Belik's works continue the tradition of the classical still life. Compositions of bottles, jars, pots alternate with images of fruits, but the images are shown in an almost abstract way. Mr. Belik tries to disengage from the concrete form and instead creates an image from which ordinary objects and fruits descend.

The artist refers to the direction of his artwork as "mystical realism" and "spirit art." Mr. Belik explained that his works are influenced by his faith. "Christianity does not require extraordinary aids - the real world is mystical on its own - these things with which we surround ourselves, these everyday items are by themselves good enough in their essence."

Accompanying the still lifes were impressionistic landscapes, and abstract works that explore cubic forms.

This was Mr. Belik's second exhibit at the Institute; the first was on view here in September, 2001.

Walter Hoydysh, who is responsible for the Art at the Institute program, recalled that after the 2001 exhibition, a number of Mr. Belik's works were acquired by American art connoisseurs. "Sergei left behind some of his works, and they caught the eye of several of our neighbors - they helped us make friends in the neighborhood," Mr. Hoydysh noted.

Outside of his native Ukraine, Mr. Belik has exhibited widely in Europe and the United States, including Paris, Amsterdam, Washington and San Francisco.

The Belik exhibit is part of the institute's program to showcase Ukraine's best contemporary artists.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 8, 2004, No. 6, Vol. LXXII

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