Heroes of our time (series)

Sandra Koretskaya graduated from the Kharkiv Academy of Design and Arts in 2009. Her active involvement in both solo and group exhibitions throughout Europe began as early as 1999, reflecting her longstanding presence in the contemporary art landscape. Koretskaya’s art is distinguished by her investigation of figurative structure, rooted deeply in associative experience and semantic nuance.

In her creative practice, the grotesque takes center stage, as she intentionally avoids traditional notions of beauty or pleasant reflection, instead favoring imagery meant to unsettle and disturb. This internal strain imparts her figures with a dynamic force, suggesting that they strive to break free into the world from the recesses of the artist’s imagination—an expressive reaction to the challenging, paradoxical era she inhabits. Koretskaya’s sharp, fluid draftsmanship, further enlivened by striking color contrasts, emphasizes the emotional force within her works. The tangible nature of her materials—whether paper or cardboard—is intentionally woven into each composition, enhancing their overall impact.

A significant aspect of Koretskaya’s oeuvre is her intricate figurative compositions, where figures in fragmented or disproportionate scales are assembled into chaotic yet coherent ensembles. Some of these forms arise from deliberate intention; others spring from spontaneous creative impulses, resembling the accidental clustering of autumn leaves swirled by the wind. Architectural motifs frequently recur across her series, with misshapen structures intensifying impressions of fracture and alienation. At the same time, human forms intermingle with fantastical hybrids to blur the distinction between what is real and what is imagined, often evoking sensations of despair and emotional upheaval.

Masks and mythic creatures are tools Koretskaya wields skillfully, allowing her to draw on ancestral symbolism and reveal profound truths of human nature, in its virtues and its faults alike. Her still life works, executed with methodological rigor, breathe an understated vitality into commonplace objects, imbuing the everyday with a sense of romance. Recently, she has ventured into collage, incorporating elements such as vintage magazines, newspapers, and felt-tip markers, but her instantly recognizable style—marked by expressive movement and emotional resonance—remains unchanged. Although the themes may at first appear cold or uninviting, the humanity embedded within her creations has the power to elicit a surprising empathy, underscoring the singular perspective she brings to her art.