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The exhibition in memory of Yurii Botnar

On January 12, 2017 in Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum opened an exhibition of works of the artist-countryman Yurii Botnar "In memory of the artist" (1949-2016).

Almost 40 days have passed as Yurii Semenovych Botnar passed away... The news of his death on December 6, 2016 shocked everybody who knew our compatriot, talented artist, poet, scriptwriter, good and sincere man, loving father, grandfather, loyal and selfless friend Yurii Botnar.

He was destined to live active, full of various events life, becoming one of those artists who shaped the artistic image of his native land, glorified it far beyond Ukraine.

Yurii Semenovych Botnar was born on December 21, 1948 in Kirovohrad, although in his passport another date was mentioned - January 1, 1949. In 1963 he finished Kirovohrad children's art school in its first graduation, and in 1968 he graduated from Kyiv Art and Industry College. In 1987 he successfully passed exams of Graphic department of Ivan Fedorov Ukrainian Printing Institute, making yet another significant step towards the artistic Olympus.

From 1972 to 1989 Yurii Semenovych was working as an artist in Kirovohrad artistic and production workshops of the USSR Art Fund. For active promotion of art and great skills he was awarded with honorary certificate of the Komsomol Central Committee, he became the winner of the Yurii Yanovskyi regional Komsomol Prize. In 1980-s the artist achieved  the republican level, illustrating books in the journals "Radianskyi pysmennyk"(Soviet writer), "Veselka" (Rainbow), "Molod" (Youth)... In 1989 he became the founder of the Creative Union of Young Artists "Barva", which regularly organized various exhibitions, icluding the International exhibition of Viktor Vazareli op-art in Ukrainian and the Soviet Union cities (1989-1992), the Exhibition of Ukrainian art in Canada and the United States and the Exhibition "Scythian gold" in the city of Turku in Finland (1990), an exhibition of Ukrainian landscapes and still life in Berlin in Germany (1992). Besides this association "Barva" under the direction of Yurii Botnar opened exhibition of contemporary art and  underground in Kyiv and European cities. Eloquent is the fact that our fellow artist became one of Serhii Paradzhanov Charitable Foundation founders. But wherever he was, the artist never broke ties with his homeland.

Yurii Semenovych was always an active participant in numerous exhibitions, including ones of international level. In his creative assets there is the participation in the exhibition of Kirovohrad garrison on USSR Armed Forces Day (1980), the Republican exhibition "Artist and a book" in Kiev (1984), Republican Exhibition on Victory Day in Kyiv (1985), the exhibition of Kyiv artists in Kalininhrad (1993) and repeated participation in exhibitions of Paradzhanov Foundation (1995-1998). Interesting is the fact that in his lifetime the first screenplay was published and the work on the second called "Behind the scenes of surrealism" started.

The confirmation of artist high-level professional skills is that his works are in museums and private collections in Ukraine, USA, Canada, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Armenia, Israel and Russia.

The artist’s works has been repeatedly presented at Regional Art Museum at its exhibition halls. It always became a real holiday for fans of fine art. After all, artistic creations by Yurii Botnar affect with its ruggedness, freshness, directness, they combined generosity, wealth and harmony of colors. The leading genres of the artist’s activities were always still life and landscape, filled with Ukrainian flavor and love for his native land. Artworks by Yurii Botnar, stored in museums, became an invaluable part of artistic heritage.

A few months before the death  Yurii Botnar was diagnosed with serious illness ... Having found it out on September 28, 2016 the online auction to support the artist and countryman was organized in the social network "Facebook". The artworks submitted for auction could be viewed at the Regional Art Museum. To raise funds for treatment, Yurii Semenovych exhibited 25 of his paintings. The artist’s friends join the action and who offered their works as well. Among them were members of Kirovohrad regional organization of the Ukrainian Artists National Union, Feliks Polonskyi, Volodymyr Kyrianov, Anatolii Yaniev, Oleksandr Demydenko Serhii Shapovalov and the organization head Andrii Hvorost. Thanks to many caring people the struggle for the artist’s life continued... and, unfortunately, it was too late, he was not saved...

At the exhibition dedicated to the memory of the artist the paintings and the graphic works from the stock collection of Regional Art Museum are presented, provided by his family and his friends. The printed materials - poems, diary, photographs, acquainting us with the life and career of the artist complement the exhibition. Also the exhibition presents some poems by Yurii Semenovych.

The artist’s relatives, friends and fellows came to the exhibition opening.

Special, warm and moving words were from his daughter Anna and his first wife Olena, who shared memories about Yurii Semenovych being a good father, husband and friend.

The rtist Anatolii Suziumov shared memories about the joint work with Yurii Botnar in Kirovohrad artistic and production workshops of Art Fund of Ukraine in the distant '80s, noting his cheerful character and good manners. The head of the Regional organization of the National Ukrainian Artists Union Andrii Hvorost stressed on the importance of such exhibitions to preserve the artistic heritage of the artist and promote his artwork among young generations.

The memory of him will live forever in our hearts...

Tetiana Kostenko – research associate of

 Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum -

 Picture Gallery of Petro Ossovskyi "World and Fatherland"