Vartan Markarian “Impossible Departures”

The sense of instability of tomorrow reflects the essence of our contemporary existence, where war and loss have become an integral part of the Ukrainian experience. The unforeseen circumstances of the war insidiously instigated by Russia in 2014 have thwarted our plans and hopes. Memories of the past disappear and nostalgia for a period of peace becomes a heavy burden. Occupied cities become symbols of a lost world, and emotional transformations lead us into a labyrinth where reality and dreams of a free life compete. Each object in the exhibition conveys an impression of the instability and unpredictability of contemporary life, and makes us reflect on our coexistence with the tragic consequences of war and loss.

Exhibition opening: 26/04/2024 at 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. No English interpretation of the exhibition opening.
Curators: Waldemar Tatarczuk, Gabriela Gawęda
Exhibition on display: till 26/05/2024 (Tue–Sun 3:00–7:00 p.m.).
Admission: free.

Vartan Markarian was born, lives and works in Poltava, Ukraine. He is an interdisciplinary artist whose creative practice encompasses a wide range of artistic media such as painting, drawing, installation, video and virtual reality (VR).

Markarian explores the presence of people in urban, industrial spaces. Since the outbreak of war in 2014, he has built his creative work around the theme of posthumanism, focusing on war, emigration, ecology and the synergy of these concepts. He regularly experiments with different media, combining technical and conceptual aspects in his projects. Since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion, his work has documented reality and focused on reflections on the consequences of the war caused by the Russian invasion. The artist explores the state in which each individual finds himself in these difficult times – between existence and death, volunteering and defending the homeland – times in which life is divided into pre-war and war.