How everything began - June 2022
Despite the fact that it was a lot of work, our first exhibition was a great success. We had four weeks to demonstrate our ability to organize an exhibition while simultaneously realizing our foundation and expanding our online offerings. Despite numerous challenges, the Arthentico team prevailed and welcomed around 100 guests to the opening of the exhibition titled "Whether 50 or 80 Percent Water, Every Human is Equal." The exhibition took place in the Favoriten Water Tower, bringing together Ukrainian and Austrian art in one location. In these difficult times, Arthentico, together with our artists, created an exhibition that bridges classical and contemporary art from Ukraine with contemporary art from Austria. An exhibition that provides a sense of belonging and support to Ukrainian refugee artists.
Above all, our aim was to strengthen the dialogue among artists and provide visitors with the opportunity to recognize similarities and differences. This was achieved not only through interactions with the artists but also through the juxtaposition of Austrian and Ukrainian cultures. According to representatives from the MuseumQuartier, we were the first and only gallery to offer on-site support to Ukrainian artists and successfully realized it. This allowed us to establish ourselves as an expert gallery for Ukrainian art.
The exhibition showcased works in a variety of painting styles, from Iryna Depko's aesthetic portraits to Monika Herschberger's rhythmic abstract pieces. Every visitor could find something to their taste and draw inspiration for their daily life. We were able to exhibit our Ukrainian artists alongside a prominent Ukrainian art figure, as the Puschitz Gallery, in collaboration with the Swiss Embassy, provided the paintings of Yuriy Khymych for the exhibition. We are also very grateful to the city of Vienna for swiftly providing us with the Favoriten Water Tower location, contributing to the promotion of Ukrainian art on-site. Special thanks go to all our guests who made the exhibition so remarkable!