Five years after being diagnosed with severe depression, artist Graham Hnatiuk bounces back with a strong series of work that explores environmentalism and humankind’s eroding connection with their surroundings.
CO-EXISTENCE features eight new pieces that range from the explosively colourful to the bleak, a window into climate change, and challenging how we view our world. The pieces are framed using old discarded fence boards.
The intense and passionate artist’s bold colours and striking textures take shape over an extensive time-consuming process. Working in themes, Hnatiuk uses art as a vehicle for commentary on political and environmental issues.
Since leaving Artbeat Studio’s residency program in 2012, he has been perfecting his craft in his own studio on South Osborne, in addition to writing and fronting the indie/poetry rock band Hearing Trees.
The opening reception is on March 7 from 5pm to 9pm, as part of First Fridays in the Exchange. Hnatiuk will give a brief artist talk at 7:30pm.
The exhibition, which runs through to March 22nd, is hosted at Artbeat Studio Inc in Winnipeg’s Exchange District, 62 Albert St on the 4th floor. Hnatiuk entered the Artbeat program in 2011 and contributed to the January 2012 Artbeat group show “Planet of the Arts.”
You can support local art in many ways — coming to a show, telling your friends, commissioning work, sponsoring studio space, or through networking opportunities. Artbeat Studio also has an endowment fund, which supports its core-programming. Donations to that fund can be made at The Winnipeg Foundation’s website.
For more information, contact grahamhnatiuk@gmail.com