English:Andrej Babenko (Q73319)

Andrej Babenko is a storyteller. His work draws on personal experiences while at the same time researching broader human questions: Why does history repeat itself? To whom does the country belong? Adherents of progress or the defenders of long-standing values? How to navigate today’s chaotic realities? He absorbs the world around him like a sponge—only to erupt like a volcano through his art. Tangibly expressive and richly layered, his work invites close observation and reflection.

Babenko’s style defies categorization. He fuses classical painting with grunge, graffiti, and Ukrainian folklore, interwoven with Western conceptualism and intellectual inquiry. This interplay—East and West, old and new—forms a cohesive, living whole.

As one curator noted: “What is special about his work is the striking synergy of styles and cultures. He mixes spray cans and oil paint, combines punk with jazz, and creates wild compositions with classical patterns. He is East and West, past and present, and slightly ahead of time".