

Ihar Barkhatkou
Born: 1988
Hometown: Tbilisi
Based in: Tbilisi, Georgia
Born: 1988
Hometown: Tbilisi
Based in: Tbilisi, Georgia
2006 - Art School No. 201 in Minsk, Belarus;
2007 - School of Spatial Drawing by Oleg Lutsevich, Minsk, Belarus;
2011 - Belarusian State Academy of Arts, Minsk, Belarus;
2015 - Member of the Belarusian Union of Cinematographers;
2023 - Member of the International Association of Visual Artists (Florence, Italy);
Present - Lives and works in Tbilisi, Georgia.
I believe it can be perceived in my work the combination of the formalist school of spatial drawing with both abstract expressionism and calligraphy. My principal aim is to evolve common depicted objects into a pulse that beats beyond contours, creating the illusion of motion in every section of the canvas, including empty space. Mannerism, structuring, and even professionalism are rejected, by using ragged strokes and making the most of the “mistakes” effect; this allows the outlines, both successful and unsuccessful to depict reality and action – the drawing process itself. It is my desire to challenge the viewer to see through, not only the image itself but also the whole process of formation and gradual unfolding of the space in its totality.
What inspires you?
Silent cinema has had a significant influence on my art. The pictures of S. Eisenstein, C. T. Dreyer, A. Dovzhenko, and D. Vertov taught me to see composition and depict movement. Moreover, my contours and strokes are largely constructed using film-editing techniques.
Describe your creative process.
I always listen to music while I work. I am an artist inspired by music - by J. S. Bach, R. Wagner, D. Shostakovich, G. Mahler, G. Ligeti. I see in music an undying force on which modern art may be built. And perhaps the nervous, at times aggressive, characteristics of my works should be attributed to the energy that develops during the creative process each time the brush, to the accompaniment of music, touches the canvas..
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
Spatial, expressive, bold
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
Hans Holbein the Younger, Vladimir Favorsky, Paul Cézanne.
Where do you go for inspiration?
For inspiration, I go to secondhand bookshops.