PinchukArtCentre

Mission

PinchukArtCentre is an international centre for contemporary art of the 21st century. It is an open platform for the artists, the art work and society.

Its definite innovative profile is aimed at the dynamic interlacing of new production, presentation, and collection bridging national identity and international challenge. It is an ideal venue for masterworks and workgroups by outstanding artists of our time which reflect and represent the complexity of the world, transforming it into a unique and new form.

This sustainably determines its work and create a corporate identity in the following fields of activity: collection, exhibitions, projects, communication, education, publications and research.

History

PinchukArtCentre is an international centre for contemporary art of the 21st century. It is an open platform for the artists, the art work and society.

The PinchukArtCentre is located in the Kyiv’s historic architectural complex in the Besarabsky area that underwent a major renovation in the beginning of the 21st century. Both architectural and interior design for the art centre was developed by a French architect, Philippe Chiambaretta. The PinchukArtCentre occupies six floors, with exhibition spaces on four floors, a video-lounge and a café on the top floor. The total area of the exhibition centre adds up to over 4000 sq. metres.

Since the opening, the art centre has become a favourite spot for young Ukrainians, city-dwellers and numerous international visitors to Ukraine’s capital. With visitor friendly viewing hours (12.00 to 21.00) and free-of-charge entrance, the Centre provides an outstanding opportunity to become immersed in the very best contemporary art possible. With the PinchukArtCentre, Kyiv has thus become a new destination point for global contemporary art.

To the date, the PinchukArtCentre has presented major exhibitions: 

• “New Space”, an opening exhibition by the various international and Ukrainian artists; 

• “Generations.UsA”, a group show with twenty young Ukrainian and American artists; 

• “Vik Muniz: A Survey”, an exhibition by the well-known Brazilian artist Vik Muniz; 

• “An Instinctive Eye”, a selection of contemporary photography from the Sir Elton John Collection; 

• “REFLECTION”, a recent acquisitions exhibition including artists such as: Serhiy Bratkov, Antony Gormley, Andreas Gursky, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Takashi Murakami; 

• “Mariko Mori: Oneness”, a large scale exhibition by the Japanese artist, Mariko Mori; 

• “Paul McCartney — Paintings”, a survey exhibition of paintings by Sir Paul McCartney;

• “Rhine on The Dnipro: Julia Stoschek Collection / Andreas Gursky”, a thematic video art exhibition with seventeen international artists and major one-person photography exhibition;

• Exhibition of the British artist Sam Taylor-Wood and “21 RUSSIA”, a group showcase of contemporary Russian artists. 

• “REQUIEM”, the largest retrospective show of the British artist Damien Hirst;

• Exhibition of 20 shortlisted artists for the PinchukArtCentre Prize and a group show of Ukrainian artists of the elder generation “RED FOREST”;

• Two parallel solo exhibitions: “Faith Matters” by Indian Subodh Gupta and “Ukraine” by Sergey Bratkov;

• Sexuality and Transcendence – a major international group exhibition;

• Solo exhibition of Takashi Murakami;

• 21 Shortlisted Artists of the Future Generation Art Prize Group Exhibition;

• Solo exhibition of the South African artist Candice Breitz: "You+I";

• Solo show by Mexican artist Damian Ortega “Tool Bit”;

• "Collection Platform 1: Circulation";

• "Your emotional future", solo exhibition by Olafur Eliasson.

Apart from large scale projects, the art centre holds short term PAC-UA exhibitions presenting only new works by Ukrainian artists. All PAC-UA showcases are held in the special art space on the 5^th floor of the PinchukArtCentre.

In 2008 - 2009, the Art Centre presented shows within Project Room concept — a special series of exhibitions by the young and emerging artists. Exhibitions have included: «Pastime Paradise» by Christina Solomukha (France/Ukraine); «East Art Map» by IRWIN (Slovenia); «Patriotism. Art as a Present» by R.E.S. (Ukraine); «Dreamers» by SOSka (Ukraine) and a solo exhibition by Keita Sugiura (Japan).

In 2007 and 2009, PinchukArtCentre officially organized the Ukrainian Pavilion at the 52nd and 53rd Biennale in Venice, with projects “A Poem About an Inland Sea” and “Steppes of Dreamers” respectively. In 2011the art centre presented exhibition Future Generation Art Prize @ Venice -Ukrainian Collateral Event on the 54th Venice Biennale.

In late 2008, the PinchukArtCentre Prize was announced: the first national prize for young artists up to 35 years old. 20 shortlisted artists were selected among more than 1100 applications and an international jury chose the winners of the Main Prize and two Special Prizes. Artem Volokitin from Kharkiv won the Main Prize, and Masha Shubina and Oleksii Salmanov got two Special Prizes. The PinchukArtCentre Prize award ceremony was held on December 4, 2009.

On July 4 2011, Selection Committee announced the names of the top 20 nominees for the Prize 2011. The exhibition of the shortlisted artist will be open at the art centre from October 29, 2011, to January 8, 2012.

On December 8, 2009, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation announced the establishment of the Future Generation Art Prize, a new large-scale international competition for artists up to 35 years old, with the PinchukArtCentre acting as the organizer.

On June 29, 2010, seven members of the Selection Committee featuring competent and global art-professionals, selected 20 artists from more than 6 000 applications coming from 125 countries and divided over all continents. The 21th nominee for the Future Generation Art Prize is Artem Volokitin, the winner of the first PinchukArtCentre Prize 2009.

On December 10, 2010, at the Future Generation Art Prize 2010 Award Ceremony the names of the winners were announced: a Brazilian artist Cinthia Marcelle received the Main Prize and Mircea Nicolae, the artist from Romania, won the Special Prize.

In February 2011 the PinchukArtCentre presented “Collection Platform: Circulation project”, a permanent exhibition of selected works from the collection representing leading International and Ukrainian contemporary artists. The collection platform is renewed twice a year.

As of June 2011, the total number of PinchukArtCentre visitors since its opening reached over 1 180 000 people.

About Victor Pinchuk

Victor Pinchuk is one of Ukraine’s most successful businessmen, whose role in civic, international affairs and charitable organizations has made him a leader in Ukraine’s growing interaction with Europe and the world.

Born in Kyiv in 1960, he graduated with honours from the Dnipropetrovs’k Metallurgical Institute in 1983 and earned a PhD degree in 1987 before starting his career as a research engineer in pipe production.

In 1990, he founded Interpipe Company on the basis of his patented innovations in pipe design, engineering and production, which were successfully adopted by leading metallurgical factories in the former USSR. In 2006, he founded EastOne Ltd., an international investment advisory company whose portfolio comprises more than 20 businesses and large-scale projects, including Interpipe and media assets in Ukraine and internationally.

Mr. Pinchuk served two terms as an elected Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, from 1998 to 2006. In 2003, he decided to retire from politics to focus on his business and philanthropic activities.

For more than 12 years Mr. Pinchuk has been developing and supporting a number of philanthropic projects in Ukraine. In 2006, he consolidated these activities under the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, which became the largest private Ukrainian philanthropic foundation. Its numerous projects include the creation of a network of modern neonatal centres throughout Ukraine, cooperation programs with the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the ANTIAIDS Foundation of his wife Elena Franchuk, the creation of the Kyiv School of Economics, a cooperation with the Aspen Institute, the opening of the PinchukArtCentre, a first large scale contemporary art centre in Ukraine, the creation and development of the only Ukrainian private chamber orchestra, a charitable concert with Paul McCartney, the production and promotion of a film with Steven Spielberg on the Holocaust in Ukraine, human rights projects with George Soros and support of local Jewish communities.

Mr. Pinchuk has long promoted closer ties between Ukraine and the EU. In 2004, he created the Yalta European Strategy - YES - an international independent organization that is promoting Ukraine joining the European Union. Its annual meeting every summer in Yalta has become the main high-level Ukraine-EU forum for debate and policy recommendations.

Mr. Pinchuk serves as a member of the Board of the International Crisis Group, a member of the Board of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a member of the International Advisory Council of Brookings Institution and a member of the Corporate Advisory Board of the Global Business Coalition against HIV/AIDS.

In 2009 Victor Pinchuk is granted the title of the "Honorary Citizen of Kyiv City".

Victor Pinchuk was listed as one of the "2010 Time 100 - The World's Most Influential People" in Time Magazine, published on April 29, 2010. Mr. Victor Pinchuk was listed in the "Thinkers" section, among the most influential thinkers in the world -- along with Apple founder Steve Jobs, Minister Mentor of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew, newly appointed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and designer Zaha Hadid.

In September 2010 he was ranked #1 on the ranking of promoters of Ukraine abroad by the Institute of World Policy.

Victor Pinchuk is #37 on the Power 100 ranking of ArtReview in 2010.

On October 18, 2010 in New-York Victor and Elena Pinchuk were honored for their contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 9th «An Enduring Vision» ceremony. They are the first award winners from Eastern Europe in the history of «An Enduring Vision».