< p>In the National Hotel in Kiev, an installation by the famous Ukrainian sculptor Oleg Atayants was opened. The composition is created from gas pipes twisted into a figure of fingers, which is understandable all over the world. The name of the installation — Fuck Gas Weapon.
The idea of the original work came from the author back in 2022 — in the midst of the war between Russia and Ukraine, after the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was blown up. It was created by a sculptor in the Dnieper — real gas pipelines.
Photo: Oleg Atayants
It was then that European countries had a dilemma — continue to buy gas from Russia or refuse to cooperate with the aggressor country. As a sign of protest against Russia's gas blackmail, Oleg Atayants created his own composition.
Pipes are painted in national colors — yellow on the outside and blue on the inside. According to the co-organizer of the exhibition Daria Shikhnenko, it was very important for the author to put the Ukrainian context into his work.
— The installation is made in the colors of our flag as a symbol of Ukraine. Today these colors are familiar all over the world, and this is how Oleg Atayants wanted to emphasize our identity. Despite the fact that the sculptor has been living abroad since 2014, it is extremely important for him to maintain ties with Ukraine. Therefore, it is not surprising that for the first time this installation is presented in Kyiv, — said Daria.
The main message (literally and figuratively), which the author put into his work, is that blackmailing Russia will not work. It is also important to convey to the inhabitants of Europe that gas is expensive for them — this is a problem incomparable to the fact that people are dying in Ukraine.
Fuck gas weapon — it is a symbol of the end of the terrorist regime of the Russian dictator and the resilience of Ukraine, which courageously resists aggression.
— Artists feel the needs of the present very keenly and try to express it in their own language. It is understandable to generations, different countries, cultural countries, people who know how to feel, — noted Daria Shikhnenko.
Photo: Oleg Atayants
Among other works by Atayants at the exhibition & #8212; bronze sculpture from the cycle of werewolves. If you look from one side, you can see a swan, and from the other — squid.
This is a kind of handwriting of the sculptor: he has many similar works to his credit. So he wants to show that all things and phenomena in the world have a reverse side and are not always what they seem.
Installation of gas pipes Fuck gas weapon after the presentation at the Kiev National Hotel will be exhibited at art fairs in USA. Then the author plans to sell his work at an auction, and transfer the proceeds to the needs of Ukrainian defenders.
