My Secret Places

Viktor Kramarenko is a self-taught Ukrainian artist who works in watercolors. He recreates on paper scenes from his memories: the places he visited, and the places he liked to come back to for hiking, fishing or just for a small walk to enjoy the beautiful nature in every season. He says,“Watercolor painting for me is a way to tell short stories and evoke a feeling. In my attempt to tell a story, I combine my memories and observations of our surroundings. Different mediums allow me to express different ideas and I have found solace in painting while I am unable to return home.”

Curator’s Note: Longtime followers of our gallery may be surprised to find we are showing an exhibit of Ukrainian landscape paintings, when our focus is typically plants and natural landscapes of the southeastern U.S. We decided to make an exception for Kramarenko’s work. First, while we in North Carolina have the luxury of creating and displaying artwork celebrating our region here at home, a Ukrainian artist like Viktor Kramarenko does not, due to the ongoing conflict there. Second, we feel this artwork and its context invite viewers in North Carolina to reflect on our home landscapes, even if they don’t depict them directly. What does it mean to feel a connection to a place? What emotions does Kramarenko’s artwork evoke? What similarities do you see with southeastern native landscapes? What would it feel like to be thousands of miles away from home, unable to return? We hope visitors will find this exhibit intriguing and meaningful. In the new year, the gallery will return to its typical subject matter of southeastern native plants, animals, and landscapes.

Running through November 2 – December 21