Victims of Grenouille

An exhibition by Rukh Art Hub at the Mriya Gallery, the captivating Victims of Grenouille art show is the first solo exhibition by one of the most promising emerging artists on the Ukrainian art scene, Oleksii Shcherbak.

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Victims of Grenouille, a new series by Oleksii Shcherbak, is inspired by Patrick Süskind’s famous novel Perfumer: The Story of a Murderer. In this show, Oleksii delves into the world of perceptions, memories, and senses triggered by external stimuli. The artist’s reflections manifest as a complex interplay of subconscious sensations, where mythical illusions are woven into the character portraits. As a narrator, Shcherbak shares with the audience vivid tales of enigmatic heroes, while exploring surrealistic and existential themes inspired by the book.

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The artist contemplates the impact of our inner-sensory experiences comparing them to tangible events of our daily lives.“This series began with “Tilda,” the artist shares. “I was stuck working on this piece, painting in between the very long breaks until I fell under the strong influence of Patrick Süskind’s Perfume: The Story of a Murderer in the spring of 2023. I became interested in exploring my unconscious intent to paint a fleeting aura of scent — from a vivid assortment of sprouts blossoming in the spring that emanate the most exquisite, effeminate aroma to an intense and heavy mist of hues that reek of an exhausted city.

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Born in 1997 in Chernihiv, the artist works with traditional oil painting, often combining it with graphic elements. In his paintings, he creates ethereal realms inhabited by magical creatures, reminiscent of a grotesque, Victorian-tinted fairytale. He is also a remarkable book illustrator, particularly known for illustrating the Ukrainian edition of Jane Eyre.