Illya Chichkan and Mihara Yasuhiro to represent Ukraine at the 53rd International Art Exposition, 2009 Venice Biennale

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine and the PinchukArtCentre are pleased to announce that Illya Chichkan (Ukraine) and Mihara Yasuhiro (Japan) will be representing Ukraine at the 53rd Venice Biennale with the exhibition entitled Steppes of Dreamers. Peter Doroshenko PinchukArtCentre’s artistic director, is appointed as the Pavilion’s official commissioner.

Working together in the uncharted boundary where art and fashion meet, the collaborative effort between Illya Chichkan and Mihara Yasuhiro will examine the past, present and future of the Eurasian landscape through various cinema metaphors – inspired by the great Ukrainian film director, Kira Muratova. Their four large-scale art installations, inside and outside of the Palazzo Papadopali, will be ambitious projects for the Biennale. Both Illya Chichkan and Mihara Yasuhiro will demonstrate a single, unique vision regarding travel, identity and consciousness.

Peter Doroshenko, Commissioner of the Ukrainian Pavilion: “Ukraine has always been an interconnecting point for cultural, social and economic routes that extend from West to East. Illya Chichkan at one point in his life was a fashion designer and then later became an artist. Mihara Yasuhiro started out as an artist and then became a fashion designer. Volodymyr Klitchko, the world champion boxer, has been appointed curator for the exhibition. Their varied backgrounds will create an important dialogue around identity and roles issues in society today.”

Victor Pinchuk, Philanthropist: “It is a great honour for the PinchukArtCentre to be asked by the Ministry of Culture to organize the Ukrainian Pavilion in the Venice Biennale for the second time. As a nation, Ukraine is becoming integrated into the world’s infrastructure, including art. It is very clear that every two years, the Biennale is the place where the global art world intersects and creative dialogue takes place. It is important for Ukraine to be present in Venice”.

This year’s 53rd Venice Biennale, Making Worlds, will run from 7 June to 22 November 2009. The Biennale will include 77 national pavilions and 38 parallel projects by different international organisations and institutions. Art pavilions will be located in the Giardini, Arsenale and other venues within the city.

Steppes of Dreamers press viewing will take place at 14.00 on Thursday 4 June 2007. Ukrainian Pavilion
Palazzo Papadopoli
San Polo, 1364
30125 Venice
Italy

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