From 8 to 21 September, Kontraktova Square in Kyiv will host an installation by New York-based art duo CHIAOZZA, inspired by the work of Mariya Prymachenko. Seven pneumatic sculptures ranging from 3 to 7 metres in height are based on well-known images from Prymachenko’s paintings: a red flower, peas, a tree, a sunflower, a bird, a blue beast, and a yellow beast.
CHIAOZZA is a duo consisting of Adam Frezza and Terry Chao, artists from New York. Their works can be seen in public spaces and galleries in the United States – in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Houston. In 2017, CHIAOZZA became the stars of the Coachella music festival – their giant installation Chiaozza Garden became the hallmark of the Californian city of Indio, where the festival takes place. The artists are also known for their collaborations with major brands: they have created window displays for Hermès, a capsule collection for IKEA, and installations for Nike.
The artists created the installation at the invitation of Ukraine WOW in partnership with the Prymachenko Family Foundation. From 26 September, it will be on display at the Ukraine WOW exhibition at Kyiv railway station, after which it is planned to be shown in the United States. The artists also recorded an English-language audio guide for each pneumatic sculpture, explaining the meaning of each image. The Ukrainian audio guide was recorded by the artist’s great-granddaughter, Anastasiya Prymachenko.
The installation was financed by the Aurora supermarket chain. It also created a limited edition series of themed products: lamps, T-shirts, shopping bags, notebooks, mugs, sticker packs and tattoo sets. All proceeds from sales will be donated to support Ukrainian museums. The collection will be available at the Aurora store on Kontraktova Square and at the Ukraine WOW exhibition.
