Ruslan Omelianenko, Kharkiv, Ukraine
As long as I can remember, I always loved to draw and travel. I always drew. And everywhere, even in the most inappropriate places. From a young age, I dreamed of becoming an artist, but my professional journey in painting only began in 2010, when I was already over 30. Perhaps this is why I create so passionately today, now that I am over 45.
My sources of inspiration are mostly the visual traditions and philosophical teachings of the Ancient East, particularly those of China, Japan, and Korea, along with an insatiable craving for travel. All of this is reflected in my artworks.
The series of paintings featuring tigers was devoted to 2022, the Year of the Tiger in the Eastern calendar. In Eastern tradition, the tiger symbolizes not only inner strength and courage in the face of adversity, but also a wish for these qualities, as well as the protection of one’s home from evil. I could not have imagined that these qualities -courage and tremendous inner strength -would soon be needed by all the people of my country to protect their homes from the evil of invasion.
Thus, these paintings have taken on a special meaning for me.
Dimensions: 81*45 cm (without frames)
Materials: Rice paper, ink, mineral paints