Ukrainian artist
Konstantin Skoptsov |
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| Born | Konstantin Michailivich Skoptsov
(1958-12-13) 13 December 1958 (age 65)
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| Nationality | Ukrainian |
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| Known for | Painting, graphics, illustration |
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| Movement | Semantic realism |
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| Website | konstantin-skoptsov.com |
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Konstantin Skoptsov (Ukrainian: Скопцо́в Костянти́н Миха́йлович) (born 13 December 1958) is a Ukrainian artist, drawing artist, painter and an illustrator.[1]
Biography
Skoptsov was born in Odesa, Ukraine. After completing middle school, he began working as a metalworker while simultaneously pursuing his interests in drawing and illustration. He served in the USSR Airforce, and upon the conclusion of his military service, he attempted to enter arts major programs in Odesa and Moscow. However, during his pursuit of formal education, he discovered that the subject matter requirements imposed by the Communist Party conflicted with his artistic vision and personal beliefs. As a result, Skoptsov abandoned his efforts towards obtaining a college degree and instead joined the growing underground movement of young and politically independent artists.[citation needed]
Artist career
His first public exhibitions started in 1976,[2] mostly in the apartment galleries hosted by private art collectors, accessible by invitation only.
Today, his works are displayed throughout the world, in major galleries and museums.
In 2000 Skoptsov was introduced to his future mentor, Temistokl Vyrsta, a renowned French abstractionist. This relationship had marked an important milestone in the artist's career as he became a representative of the French Art Association Fenix and established a large presence in Paris, in collaboration with the art project Paris School of Ukrainian Painting.[3]
In 2004, Skoptsov received a recognition award by Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John for his illustrations to Henri de Régnier.
Concurrently he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Russian-Italian Academy Ferroni [1] for illustrations to Dante Alighieri, as well as an essay on Giotto di Bondone's frescoes at the La Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi.
Skoptsov develops and promotes his signature Semantic Realism style, and uses a variety of media for his artistic inspirations, from canvas and paper to natural leather.
He considers such Masters of drawing and painting as Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Hieronymus Bosch to be an inspiration and predecessors of Semantic Realism.[4]
Based on his own interviews and similarity in themes and style, he is frequently referred to as "Bosch From Odesa" by the Ukrainian media.[5]
Currently, Konstantin Skoptsov lives and works in his home city of Odesa, continuing collaborations with international galleries and museums.
Quotes About Him
- By Russian Art Critic Stanislav Aidenyan: "His [Konstantin Skoptsov's] name is among the most talented graphic artists in Odesa.
Konstantin is an artist and a poet, though also is known to be a kind of a philosopher, a thinker who encourages submerging into the subconscious mind.
His creative work combines avant-garde and tradition, mysticism and unchained elaborate imagery... That could be said in reference to both his visually- artistic and literary-poetic experiments".[8]
- By Ukrainian journalist Viktor Tymoshenko: “the subjects [of Skoptsov artworks] are inspired by the ancient chinese and japanese poets, by the couplets of their genius creations.
It is a mystery how Konstantin Skoptsov "materializes", populates a sheet of paper with dreams, "phantoms", horrors, outer worlds of the remote, unfamiliar to us time".[9]
