Mariia Vasylenko Contemporary Art and Recycled Wood Objects

Mariia Vasylenko is a contemporary Ukrainian artist based in Kyiv whose practice revolves around the creation of painted objects on recycled wood boards. Her work is characterized by a deep exploration of the intersection between the sacred and the everyday, myth and unpredictable reality. Mariia Vasylenko draws significant inspiration from sacred traditions, specifically icon painting, which she uses to challenge traditional modes of perception through techniques such as reverse perspective. This approach positions the viewer as the focal point, inviting a dialogue between the art and the observer. Born in 2001, Mariia Vasylenko studied a diverse range of disciplines including design, monumental art, icon painting, and philosophy at various Kyiv institutes. These academic roots are evident in her philosophical approach to space and time within her work. She views art as an open process, often creating images that arise illogically to disrupt habitual perceptions and reflect on civilizational fractures, war, and technologization. Through her exhibition projects and participation in artistic programs, Mariia Vasylenko constructs a mythical world that seeks to reveal the hidden essence behind phenomena. Her work steps into public spaces as both deliberately senseless glitches and profound attempts to live through the complexities of the modern world. By avoiding rigid narratives, Mariia Vasylenko leaves her art as a space for inhabitants to explore their own consciousness, operating under the mantra that nothing is more fiction than reality.