The PinchukArtCentre presents the fifth PAC-UA project - an exhibition by Ukrainian artist Mykola Matsenko. The show entitled Neofolk is the 5^th PAC-UA project, which presents new production of leading Ukrainian artists embedded in context of the Collection Platform. The exhibition is open on the 5^th floor from February 4 to March, 2012.

Presenting Neofolk Matsenko continues with the most abstract form within his artistic practice and brings it into a conceptually defined space, driving the perception of the viewer toward a sensitive repetition, colour and form. He represents Ukrainian tradition, folklore and history by means of abstraction. The exhibition is a unique project where the artist pushes limits of the representation within his paintings, showing 46 pieces specially produced for the exhibition.

Talking about the project, Mykola Matsenko says: “This is the only project in my life where the line is coming not from my mind, but from my heart. This is a reflection about a carpet from my childhood. On one hand I made a colour exercise out of it, on the other it is a very spiritual, emotional and really the only irrational thing in my artistic activity.”

Describing the colours of the project, Matsenko underlines: “There are periods when I use contrasting colours, in summer for example, then closer to autumn – they become monochrome, discreet.”

Bjorn Geldhof, artistic manager of the PinchukArtCentre: “It is the most abstract conceptual piece made by Matsenko, where there is not only the research of pattern, but also a research of the idea of repetition and the idea of colour and national tradition.”

PAC-UA is a special line to present new production of leading Ukrainian artists embedded in the 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, Oleksandr Roytburd and Iliya Chichkan were showcased at the PAC-UA.

Mykola Matsenko, born in Prutivka, Ivano-Frankivsk region in 1960.

Education: Shevchenko Secondary School of Arts, Kyiv, Ukraine (1972-1979), Lviv National Academy of Arts, Lviv, Ukraine (1979-1984). Works and lives in Cherkasy and Kyiv.

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.