ARTIST STATEMENT
Even though women were and are an important part of art, most have remained historically unnoticed and invisible. Although women have created art throughout history, their work has often been hidden, overlooked, and underappreciated compared to that of men. Ukrainian women artists were twice unnoticed – firstly, because of the “weaker” sex, and secondly, because of the imperial and later Soviet oppression on the part of Russia. My project Women Artists started with my interest in the topic of forgotten women’s names in Ukrainian art, among which there are already known to the whole world – such as Maria Prymachenko. Many portraits are dedicated to female artists who worked during the USSR. The creative careers and sometimes the destinies of these women were broken by the Soviet system only because they dared to identify themselves as Ukrainian women. Banned exhibitions, destroyed works, persecution by the KGB, exile, and murder – the system did everything to erase even the memory of some of these artists. Russia simply appropriated those who could not be made invisible. Even now, some names – Sonya Delaunay, Oleksandra Ekster – have mentions in Wikipedia, and even in some museums, not as representatives of Ukraine, but as Russians. It is important for me to introduce Ukrainian artists to the world, while at the same time drawing attention to the topic of women in art. The study of the role of women in the history of world culture is a story about defending the right to be.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I arrived to Madrid in March 2022 because of the war in Ukraine. I’ve been an artist for all my life, but 3 years ago during the quarantine period I started making digital art as a personal project called Tanya Kornienko Art. At first, I drew a series about cats-booklovers, portraits of friends. So I have two book projects about kayaking in Kyiv and hiking in the Ukrainian mountains. Then many illustrations appeared in connection with the situation in Ukraine.
In 2023 I decided to create a project about Ukrainian women artists who inspire me. In general, It is a rethinking of a personal life path. To answer the question “Why do I do what I do?” and study of women history which often remains invisible. I had been created 36 portraits and coloring pages. I dream in the future it will be possible to publish book and Coloring about them. Each portrait was a study. I read their biographies. I chose works and portraits to combine into a whole composition.
© Tanya Kornienko Art