Denys Shantar
Off the Grid
Periode: 20.05—06.10.2024
Denys Shantar (*1997, Kherson, Ukraine), is a Ukrainian – Swiss artist, researcher and curator, who has a background in theater and acting.
In 2019 he graduated with a Fine Art Bachelor’s from the Zurich University of the Arts (CH) with a focus on Photography as well as Drawing and Painting. 2021, he finished his Master’s degree in Costume Design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp (BE).
He exhibited in several international institutions and spaces, including Z33 House for Contemporary Art in Hasselt (BE), *Altefabrik Rapperswil during Grosse Regionale (CH), BASE Milano (IT), Morpho Antwerp (BE), Contemporary Art Institution Helmhaus Zurich (CH), Textile Museum Texture Kortrijk (BE) and Crux Galerie Athens (GR).
He received the Emerging Artist Award during the 25th Gabrovo Biennial 2022 in Bulgaria. Additionally, he was granted the Royal Academy Antwerp Department Prize in Costume Design in 2021 and the CC Brugge Input/Output Aanmoedigings Prize in 2023.
In 2022, he collaborated with the Museum of Modern Religious Art (MMRK) for his first solo show at the 3rd Ypres Quadrennial (BE) and continued working with the MMRK in 2023 to curate the group exhibition “CROSS-ING WAY‑S” in Brussels.
As of September 2023, he started his research project “God save the Queers – The (not so) secret Life of Saints” at the Royal Academy in Antwerp. He lives and works in Antwerp.
Family Album: Temporary Lost Photo: CC Brugge Found fabrics and objects, ribbons, acrylic on canvas. 90 x 67 cm, 2022 Installation view Exporuimte Poortersloge Brugge, 2023
The Saints of Kherson Photo: Sebastian Schaub courtesy GSfK Ink, ecolin, marker on silk 240 x 145 cm, 2022 Installation view *Altefabrik Rapperswiel (CH) during the Grosse Regional 23
A Decade of Faith Photo: Denys Shantar Transparent PVC coat, white thread, found objects from the artist’s collection. 150 x 152 cm, 2024
Apotheosia of war Photo: Bruno Titeca War derbis, wooden pedestal and pallets 300 x 170 cm Installation view Saint Martin’s cathedral for the 3rd Quadrennial Ypres, 2022
Blessed are the cultural workers Photo: Denys Shantar Found sculptures, different wrapping materials. Various sizes Installation view at St. Peter’s church for the 3rd Quadrennial Ypres, 2022
CROSS-ING WAY-S Photo: Denys Shantar Installation view of Station 12: “Jesus dies on the cross”with works of the MMRK collection. Exhibition view in the MMRK Brussels, 2023 - 2024
CROSS-ING WAY-S Photo: Bert Leenheer Installation view of 'Station 3: “Jesus falls for the first time”with works of the MMRK collection. Exhibition view in the MMRK Brussels, 2023 – 2024
Europe protect and save us Photo: Natalia Tsoukala Acrylic on curtain, 500 x 300 cm, 2021 Installation view at Crux Galerie Athens (GR), 2023
Flags (and other short stories) Photo: Natalia Tsoukala Embroidery and appliques with found fabrics on wooden structure. 200 x 300 cm, 2021 - Installation view at Crux Galerie Athens (GR), 2023
Kateryna in Helvetia Photo: Denys Shantar Embroidery and appliques with found fabrics and objects, acrylic on fabric and canvas 150 x 200 cm (one panel) Installation view at DISKUS Aalst, 2023
Kateryna in Helvetia Photo: copyright Stad Kortrijk – Jonas Verbeke Embroidery and appliques with found fabrics and objects, acrylic on fabric and canvas 150 x 200 cm Installation view at Texture Kortrijk, 2024
Denys Shantar
As a starting point for his artistic practice, Denys Shanter often uses his own memories and family history, deploying different materials and techniques to
create narratives that lie between reality and fiction. In his research about childhood, religion, migration, and queerness, he links the personal to current global but also historical events, weaving in symbols from mythology, art history, folklore and Christianity. While exploring his complex identity and relationship towards himself, the world and his family, he asks himself two simple questions: ‘Who am I?’ and ‘Where do I come from?’. Since his Costume Design studies, he started to focus on the use of textile, embroidery and collaging in his work. Using predominantly recycled, gifted, or found fabric and materials, he gives his work an invisible layer through the object’s unknown past, combining it with the new given context. Besides his textile practice, he also creates In Situ works and/or uses curation in his artistic practice, like in his 2022’s solo show ‘Will it bloom this year?’ held at the St. Martin’s Cathedral and St. Peter’s Church in Ypres.