Monochromacy. Art exhibition of Valeriy Puzik and Denys Nedoluzhenko
‘Monochromacy’ is an exhibition of works by Ukrainian servicemen and artists Denys Nedoluzhenko and Valeriy Puzik. Nedoluzhenko’s paintings and Puzik’s book illustrations come together in a dialogue about black-and-white thinking and how one’s worldview can change in the face of an existential threat.
In nature, monochromacy is the ability of organisms to perceive only light and darkness. Deprived of colour vision, they see a spectrum ranging from black to white only. In this way, evolution has rewarded them with a survival advantage, despite the cultural perception of this trait as a deficiency. Monochromats notice movements more quickly and thus react to danger in time. Everything superfluous disappears in the name of energy saving.
The world of a soldier is a space where colours disappear. Only contrast remains. Good or bad, permitted or forbidden — everything is defined clearly, without doubt or nuance. Such vision is not a defect, but a means of survival. In a reality where a mistake costs a life, half-tone thinking disappears, giving way to binary logic.
Denys Nedoluzhenko
Valeriy Puzik’s works include illustrations for two books currently being prepared for publication: Serhiy Rubnikovych’s poetry collection, The Book of Unwanted Consequences, and the artist’s own book of prose, Who We Were. The illustrations combine motifs from paintings by renowned international and Ukrainian artists, frontline sketches, and portraits.
‘Monochromacy’ is a fusion of two different yet similar (two-coloured, uncompromising) perspectives on reality, as seen by two serving soldiers during the period of Russia’s aggression against our country. The exhibition prompts the question: twelve years into the war, are there still things we wish to see in technicolor?
The exhibition will be open to the public from 15 June to 28 August. Admission is free. Opening hours:
– Mondays and Fridays: 16:00 - 18:00
– Wednesdays: 11:00 - 13:00.
Denys Nedoluzhenko
A Ukrainian artist working with painting, sculpture, and decorative ceramics. He was born in 1987 in the village of Chyzhove, Odesa Oblast. Since 2024, he has been serving in the Ukrainian Defence Forces as a combat medic. Among the artist’s key projects are his participation in exhibitions at the Odesa Museum of Western and Eastern Art, the Odesa Literary Museum, the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, the ‘Book Country’ festival, as well as at the ‘Flowerbed’, ‘Zenyk Art Gallery,’ and ‘TLOOM’ gallery spaces. The artist’s solo exhibitions have been held in Odesa and Kyiv, notably at 'Vitalnya.community,' 'TLOOM,' 'the Klumba Gallery,' 'Oreshek,' and the artist-run space at 19 Tserkovna Street.
Valerii Puzik
Ukrainian artist, writer, director, journalist, and soldier. Born in 1987 in the village of Telizhyntsi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast. In January 2015, he joined the military as a volunteer. He is the author of 15 books, including: Three Medals in a Drawer, Hunters of Happiness, Monolith, I Saw Him Alive, Dead and Alive Again, and With Love – Dad!, as well as co-author of the book Our Seals. Alongside his military service, he creates art projects by painting pictures on ammunition boxes. These are held in private collections in the USA, Canada, the UK, Switzerland, Argentina, France, Poland, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, and elsewhere.
In 2024, he was included in the ‘UP-100’ ranking of Ukraine’s leading figures in the ‘Culture’ category. The ranking features 100 Ukrainians who, through their ideas, hard work, and talent, are making a significant contribution to our country’s independence and future.
The project is supported by ERSTE Foundation.