M HKA Ensembles

° 1980

Based in Kyiv (UA), born in Kyiv (UA).

Lesia Khomenko (1980, Kyiv) graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture of Ukraine and further developed as an artist-in-residence at the Center of Contemporary Art of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (2005-2006) and the LIA (Leipzig International Art, 2008).

In her quest to rethink painting as a medium Khomenko reveals the tools of visual manipulation and creates complex critical statements. Contrary to the traditional approach she often transforms her paintings into objects, installations, performances and videos. Her recent series of works focuses on the relationships between the circulation of digital images and the materiality of painting. By applying digital characteristics of the visual material in her work, such as pixels, glitches and blurring, the artist reflects on the dehumanising effect of daily exposure to sensitive content on the perception of reality in wartime.

Khomenko is part of a generation of artists who have united to reflect on a number of themes that are in various ways symptomatic of the current state of Ukrainian society. These include Soviet heritage, labour migration, Westernisation, social stratification and shared mythical images of prosperity, the popular demand for a certain type of art and the individual responsibility of the artist. She is a co-founder and member of the artistic group R.E.P. (Revolutionary Experimental Space), founded in 2004 during the Orange Revolution in Ukraine. The group initially consisted of 20 artists. Since 2006 the members of the R.E.P. group are Ksenia Hnylytska, Nikita Kadan, Lesia Khomenko, Volodymyr Kuznetsov, Zhanna Kadyrova, Lada Nakonechna. Their work began with a series of actions called Intervention in response to the politicised public space of 'post-orange' Ukraine. The group's subsequent activities focused on long-term serial projects. In 2006 the group organised several exhibitions and in 2008 the curatorial and activist association Hudrada (Artistic Committee) was founded, a self-education community based on interdisciplinary collaboration, which also includes Nikita Kadan and Anna Zvyagintseva.