Sergiy Bratkov: Insight into the art of a broken everyday life in Magdeburg

<p> <strong> Sergiy Bratkov: Insight into the art of a broken everyday life in Magdeburg </strong> </p>

in the art museum Magdeburg The urgent and socially critical art of photographer and multimedia artist Sergiy Bratkov from the city of Kharkiw is presented. This exhibition not only reflects its personal artistic development, but also the current political events and its effects on individual life in Ukraine.

Detailed view of "My Brother’s Cats", Sergiy Bratkov, 2022/23 Image: Sergiy Bratkov

in the middle of the war and the destruction, Sergiy Bratkov, born in 1960 in Kharkiw, reconsidered his earlier art sets. If he was previously known for his critical and often provocative representations of everyday post -Soviet life, he is now concerned with the personal and collective reality of people who suffer from the current conflicts. His works are an artistic reaction to the aggression relationship that started from Russia in February 2022.

particularly striking in the exhibition is the black and white photo of an old man on a bed that harmonizes with its abstract wall design. This picture, which Bratkov devoted to his father, catches the fragility of life, but also a kind of dignity that remains recognizable despite the desolate circumstances. It shows the father in a neglected state, but surrounded by a respectful and apparently peaceful presence.

A look at the exhibition

The exhibition is entitled "Sergiy Bratkov. My Brother’s Cats" and can be seen in the Magdeburg Art Museum until October 6, 2023. Various aspects of Bratkov's creative work are presented here, which has developed over many years and has also attracted large institutions in the past, such as the Winterthur Photo Museum and the Hamburg Deichtorhallen.

Bratkov's works not only deal with personal topics, but also show a connection to his hometown of Kharkiw, which suffers particularly from the current warrior. The destruction of its environment becomes visible in drastic overpaintings of newspaper articles, while at the same time an artistic identity, which is under constant change, becomes clear. These overpours are peppered with fragmentary image sections that are reminiscent of the loss and destruction of the city.

An outstanding element of his exhibition is a luminous box that visualizes the architectural icon of Charkiws, the Derschprom high-rise complex. This reinforced concrete structure is a symbol of the city's resistance to the current tyranny. Bratkov contrasts them with his new paintings, which reflect the dark reality and pain that the war left. With keywords such as "втрати ворога" (opposing losses), he conjures up the tragic circumstances under which former friends are now considered enemies.

His work show a change towards an artistic expression that not only captures the individual life, but also the collective trauma of a nation. Bratkov's approach leaves space for a deeper reflection on the identity and the challenges that the war brings. This is shown in its sensitive access to photography and the picturesque approaches he chooses to transmit his messages.

In summary it can be said that the exhibition of Sergiy Bratkov in the Magdeburg art museum is an impressive homage to the resistance and creativity of an artist who finds a way despite adverse circumstances to document his artistic heritage and the reality of his life.