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Collage as Dialogue: Uniting Stories, Unlocking Meaning
Collage as Dialogue: Uniting Stories, Unlocking Meaning
My name is Olena Hrynevych, and I am from Kyiv, Ukraine.
Since 2022, I have been living and working in Germany. My primary medium is analog collage, which combines traditional techniques with contemporary artistic approaches. My background in history and teaching has shaped my interest in the multilayered nature of visual imagery and context. My works have been exhibited in galleries across Ukraine and the EU and have been nominated in competitions in the United States, some of them in permanent collections.
EDUCATION
- Master's degree in History, Kyiv Pedagogical Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine (1988)
- Master's degree in English, Boris Hrynchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, Kyiv, Ukraine (1995)
Additional Training
- Graphic Design course, Projector Creative & Tech Institute (Ukraine,2023)
- Online course in Cooperative Cultural Entrepreneurship, designed by Travelling U and accredited by Mondragon University (2024)
- Immersion in the Ukrainian art scene through exhibitions, museum visits, and creative exchanges, which shaped my artistic perspective.
Current Engagement
- Long-term collaboration with Katya Syta, renowned Ukrainian artist, curator, and co-founder of the CUTOUT COLLAGE ART PROJECT, which has transitioned to an online format since 2022 (ongoing).
- Since 2024, regular participation in lectures at OnCurating Academy Berlin, gaining insights from international experts in contemporary curatorial practices (ongoing).
- Ongoing attendance of online lectures on contemporary trends in graphic design, organized by Projector Creative & Tech Institute.
I perceive collage as an art form that combines elements, each retaining its own identity while opening up new meanings. At the core of my creativity is the belief that combining meaningful elements creates a space for multiple interpretations.
My goal is to create a space for layered expression, where each element reveals its unique story and interacts with others, forming a unified whole. My work is grounded in the principles of contrast and synthesis, where elements come together to create harmony through the redistribution of their meanings.
My approach involves experimenting with elements, where each fragment finds its role and meaning through interaction with others. My artwork aims to establish a visual dialogue with the viewer, offering opportunities for open interpretation. I seek to provoke not only an emotional response but also cognitive engagement, allowing the viewer to express themselves through perception.
Collage is a palimpsest—a multilayered structure where time, memory, and meaning intertwine. In this process, elements drawn from their original contexts retain traces of their history, entering into new interactions. In this way, tension is created between the static nature of the image and its transformation, which becomes the foundation for a visual dialogue.
Press Mentions
In March 2023, my work was presented as a case study in Socportal, a Ukrainian news agency recognized for its focus on cultural and social issues, including labor and women's rights, as well as its collaborative approach with experts to analyze societal trends.
Link to article: https://socportal.info/ua/news/cutout-collage-festival-u-kievi-trivae-festival-suchasnogo-kolazhu/
In October 2024, my creative practice was presented in a video interview titled "This Artist Finds Inner Peace in Her Analog Collages", published on the TERAVARNA YouTube channel.
TERAVARNA, a respected U.S.-based gallery, is known for supporting artists through exhibitions and media outreach, with a focus on promoting diverse artistic approaches. Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXUc0PoUv0M
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