Main image: Igor Tatarenko
The forty-seventh interview through images by Andrey Sheptunov
Art and war are two polar realities that paradoxically intertwine today in the destinies of many Ukrainian creators. The brush is replaced by a weapon, the studio by a dugout, yet the inner need to comprehend the world through imagery remains unchanged. This is the very path currently being navigated by Igor Tatarenko, an original artist who has temporarily set aside his canvases and paints to defend his country in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
As part of our special feature, "You are in the army now", we continue to share stories of those who shape the nation's cultural code while simultaneously defending it with weapons in hand.
This series of articles is not merely a tribute to the authors' courage; it is an attempt to document how a radical shift in life circumstances influences their worldview. Igor's story is a vivid example of how a profoundly thoughtful creator experiences the transformation of reality both around and within himself.
Tatarenko's creative signature has always been distinguished by remarkable depth and a propensity for the philosophical, sometimes mystical, comprehension of space. His style is often built on powerful contrasts and complex emotional registers, where light and shadow engage in a tense dialogue.
Igor's works—ranging from textured oil painting to minimalist ink and digital art—are imbued with symbolism that encodes personal revelations, the search for truth, and unwavering inner fortitude.
Today, through the prism of his military experience, many of his previously created works take on a completely different, raw, and poignant resonance.
The titles of his paintings, such as Revelatio, CHAOS, or Exodus, no longer seem like mere metaphors but accurate characterizations of our era. In this context, Tatarenko's art is perceived as a kind of shield, an internal amulet, and a territory of freedom that cannot be taken away.
To convey the author's state and thoughts as accurately as possible, we turned to our traditional interview format. It lacks the usual extensive verbal discourses that can sometimes distort the original message. Instead of lengthy monologues, Igor speaks to the reader in the language he commands most sincerely and perfectly—the language of visual imagery.
The artist answers our questions with his own artworks. Every painting he selects is a concentrated emotion, be it a visual synonym for hope, a dialogue with the past, or a symbol of resilience. This format of dialogue invites you to peer into the canvases and independently feel that very "sudden silence" that Igor Tatarenko conveys through his art while standing in defense of our lives.
1. Share a piece that best conveys the sensation of a sudden silence.
2. Which of your works could become a visual synonym for the word "hope," even if it was originally intended to mean something else?
3. Show us a painting that hides the strongest contrast between light and dark, in both a literal and emotional sense.
4. Which of your creations would you call your inner shield or amulet?
5. Which of your paintings best describes a feeling of deep attachment to your native places?
6. In which of your works will the viewer, if they look closely, find a hidden symbol of resilience?
7. Share a painting that became a kind of dialogue with your own past.
8. Which of your works embodies a moment of absolute mental clarity and understanding of your path?
9. Reveal a piece to us where you allowed yourself maximum freedom from conventional boundaries and techniques.
10. Show us a work that serves as a kind of beacon for you in the most difficult moments of life.
11. Which of your paintings harbors the most unspoken thoughts?
12. Demonstrate a work that you yourself look at completely differently now than on the day it was finished.
The works presented by Igor Tatarenko are not just a retrospective of his art; they are a living, pulsating diary of inner experiences. In this visual dialogue, we see how art overcomes any external circumstances, offering both the author and the viewer a space for reflection, the search for meaning, and silent understanding.
Every canvas proves that the symbols embedded by the artist earlier have not lost their power; on the contrary, they have acquired a new, poignant relevance in today's conditions.
Serving in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine leaves a distinct mark on the perception of his figure as a creator. Our special feature, "You are in the army now", is designed to capture precisely this incredible synergy: the courage to defend one's country with a weapon in hand and the delicate emotional constitution capable of transferring the most complex emotions onto canvas.
The "inner shield" Igor speaks of through his paintings is inextricably linked to the shield he has become today. We eagerly await his return to the studio, knowing for certain that his future canvases will carry the immense wisdom of the path he has traveled.
Support for the cultural front and attention to the creative work of our defenders is more important today than ever before. To continue exploring Igor Tatarenko's multifaceted universe, to follow his thoughts, and to see even more stunning works, we invite you to follow his social media.
You can touch the author's art, leave words of gratitude, and discover new visual revelations on his Instagram and Facebook page.
