The PinchukArtCentre presents the forth PAC-UA project - an exhibition by Iliya Chichkan in collaboration with Psyfox. Backside entrance to the museum will be open to public in the PAC-UA space on the 5^th floor from December 7, 2011 to January 8, 2012.

The project presents a specially created 12-metre-wide new painting by Ilya Chichkan that was made in collaboration with the street artist Psyfox and an interactive paintball installation. The project is created specifically for the PinchukArtCentre and is dedicated to its logo.  

Talking about the show, Iliya Chichkan says: “At the beginning of the TV era there was an interesting and somehow psycho-traumatic genre of “Theatrical TV Performances”. In this project I’d like to roll the museum walls in from the outside and create a situation in which the viewer will for certain feel as an actor on a set. Or feel like a subliminal message.”

Bjorn Geldhof, artistic manager of the PinchukArtCentre: “With new series “Backside entrance to the museum” Chichkan continues the tradition of transforming low culture into high culture and high culture into popular brands, inviting graffiti artist Psyfox to work on his canvas. Chichkan challenges the visitors of the PinchukArtCentre to use his iconic monkey faces as targets in paintball shooting ally redefining the white cube of the gallery.”

On December 8, 2011, at 19:00 Iliya Chichkan and Ludmyla Komarnytska, art-analyst and curator, will lead the PAC-UA Talk dedicated to Backside entrance to the museum project. The event will take place in the PAC-UA space on the 5^th floor of the art centre.

PAC-UA is a special line to present new production of leading Ukrainian artists embedded in the international context of the Collection Platform, aiming to research ongoing artistic processes within the country and support strong and long-term collaboration between the PinchukArtCentre and the artists. With its project, PinchukArtCentre presents a dynamic and flexible program for Ukrainian artists that will be showcased on the 5^th floor for a period of one month. Since its launch in 2011, the exhibitions by Vasyl Tsagolov, Arsen Savadov and Oleksandr Roytburd were showcased at the PAC-UA.   

Iliya Chichkan was born 1967 in Kiev, where he resides and works. His work focuses on painting, video, installation and photography. Illya Chichkan can be regarded as one of the prominent representatives of the Ukrainian “Ukrainian New Wave” art movement, formed in the early 1990s and is one of the most internationally exhibited artists living in Ukraine. His works were prominently shown by PinchukArtCentre at the 53 Venice Biennale in 2009.

Chichkan has taken part in various exhibitions, including: “INDIPENDENS”, ArtArsenal (Kyiv, 2011); “MONKEYWOOD”, Collection Gallery (Kiev, 2011); “Ukrainian art in Transition”, Perm Museum of Contemporary art (Russia, 2010); “Sexuality and Transcendence”, PinchukArtCentre (Kyiv, 2010); “Steppers of dreamers”, Ukraine Pavilion, Palazzo Papadopoly, 53 Venice Biennale (Italy, 2009); Reflection, PinchukArtCentre (Kyiv, 2007); Manifesta 5, San Sebastian (Spain, 2004); and the Sao Paulo International Biennale (Brazil, 1996). www.chichkan.com

Ilya Psyfox - underground post-graffiti artist from Kyiv. He was born in 1988 in Eastern Europe. Moved to Kyiv in early 90’s. Since 1999, became interested in graffiti culture. His nickname psyfox initially came up as a subcultural ghetto lettering "fox" and later a Greek prefix "psy" (Ψ) was added as a citation to psychology, psychoanalysis and schizophrenia.

The fable of the majority of the artist’s works appeals to paranoid and psychedelic excesses - encounters with genetic mutants or 8-bit mystery novellas interspersed with kawaii youth style and acidic aesthetics.

Psyfox participated in the shows including BACK ENTRANCE TO THE MUSEUM in cooperation with Illia Chichkan, ART KYIV contemporary 2011; COSMOSCOW art fair in cooperation with Illia Chichkan (2010); “SORRY FOR TEMPORARY INCONVENIENCES”, “We teach bad things” in cooperation with Konstantyn Reunov, “Karas Gallery” (2010); MASS MEDIA ART STATION  in cooperation with Konstantyn Reunov (2010).

PinchukArtCentre is the largest and most dynamic private contemporary art centre in Central and Eastern Europe. It is dedicated to fostering artistic education, creation and appreciation in Ukraine. The PinchukArtCentre is a leading international centre for contemporary 21st-century art. It provides a sustainable contribution to the cultural participation and emancipation of Ukrainian art and society. And it gives a significant contribution to the cultural dialogue between East and West, and between national identity and international challenge.

To find out more please visit: pinchukartcentre.org