“Dicktopia” Zhenya Tramvay

Step into the provocative world of “Dicktopia”, an exhibition that revisits the avant-garde spirit of “Dickgina” – a series of paintings born in Bakhmut in 2020, which had to be left behind as the artist had to flee his work space. The supposedly destroyed embodying piece had vibrant hues of the rainbow flag, aimed to spotlight the queer community in this small town. 

Exhibition opening:
When: 12/12/2023, (Tuesday), 6:00 p.m.
Where: Galeria Labirynt 2, ul. Grodzka 3, Lublin
Accessibility: The exhibition is held in a space not accessible for people with motor impairments..
Exhibition on display: till 31/12/2023 (Tue–Sun 3:00–7:00 p.m.).
Admission: free.

Despite “Dickgina’s” tragic fate, “Dicktopia” emerges as a homage, infusing fresh perspectives into the latent concept of 2020. Executed in an acid-soaked, street-style narrative, the canvases unfold like feverish psilocybin dreams after nights of raving and drug-induced exploration. In this private space, you will meet the imaginative world of the artist – and three holy icons of this new realm: Toxicity, Fascism, and Binary. These “surreal saints” navigate a patriarchal apocalyptic reality, poised to obliterate all in their path. Initially alluring, especially in a heightened state, they reveal their perilous nature only in the final revelation, leaving viewers to grapple with the consequences of their allure. 

 “Dicktopia” invites you to find comfort in facing the dangerous allure of its three enigmatic saints. During the opening we invite you to embody resistance against oppressive energies.  We invite you to view the works while collectively dancing to a prerecorded ambient-rave set. 

Yevhen Trachuk is a queer artist and activist from Bakhmut currently based in Kyiv. Their art practice started in 2019 in a framework of “DonbasQueer” initiative.

In 2020, Yevhen did dozens of collage works, deconstructing their sexuality and perception of gender, started to film a movie about their hometown discovering “places of power” (remains unfinished), curated an art project called “Captives” (“Полонені”) telling the stories of LGBTQ+ youth for different reasons forced to live while hiding their identity in the occupied areas of Ukraine; participated in Maria Vyshedska’s art laboratory “Ne.Freska”, two works being placed on the wall of “Peremoha” cinema (the current state is unknown). 

In 2021, they developed a series of digital collages for “Galereya Neotodryosh” zine, discovering boundaries of their own sexuality. The zine itself is a printed revision of a project in Severodonetsk that used abandoned places as galleries. The very first issue aimed to give a platform for young artists from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and share their voices among the public. The series grew into a audiovisual project, presented during the events of PrideMonth 2021 in Kyiv. 

For the last two years, Yevhen mainly shares their old work to be presented within group exhibitions around Europe.