Elena Tkachenko

Introduction

Painting in habitual understanding are the paints put on a flat surface. But nobody has deprived with a theoretical opportunity to be painting the silk string weaved into a cloth. Hundreds and thousands of strings connected by finger and freakish logic of the artist in a unique and unsteady surface, have created a portrait of the «cities for eyes», sung by such a prominent poet as Joseph Brodsky.

Other result would be inconceivable on the background of this Penelope among cities, weaving patterns in the afternoon and at dismissing night, without Ulysses on horizon.

From Joseph Brodskogo’s essay “Quay incurable”

The painter’s brush (sometimes promptly and intuitively, and sometimes thoughtfully and deliberately) selects and stirs colors on an easel; the eye and the hand of the artists search and find that unique shade of a string which becomes an imperceptible patch of light on water or an escaping beam. The brilliant slippery strings, intertwining in the strictly set order, turn into elements of a new substance or a phenomenon such as air, light, sound. Night music of the area reflected through yellow-golden flashes stiffens and stops for a short while, being fixed with small multi-colored knots in the integral and material unity.

Antique laces of the Venetian palaces are built in an endless row and dissolved in a heavy rustling fringe of the finest silk. Titan’s rigorous palette and Bellini’s clear tenderness merge in the perfect combination of infinite shades of black, pink, green… All these would be inexpressible if there were no words and colors. Words have been found by the poet, colors have been found by the artist.
Due to spin of inspiration in nature the city once was constructed out of reflections, which told to the poet about beauty, elements and time. The poet wrote down the story, and this story became the clue for the artist’s vision.

Penelope among Cities

Expressing consciousness of a modern person, poet Joseph Brodsky wove gracefully in a wreath of world culture a new petal of an ancient mythical plant: «Other result would be inconceivable on the background of this Penelope among cities, weaving the patterns in the afternoon and at dismissing night, without Ulysses on the horizon».

An instant of Venice

Artist Elena Tkachenko, having plunged into multi-colored fragrant patches of Venetian air, became herself, for an instant or for eternity, a part of this city. Venice enthralled the artist with its strings made of smells and verses. Strings have been carefully untangled and have become paintings.