Biography
Was born in Kyiv in 1947. In artistic practices prefers abstract painting, which he believes is the basis for a realistic perception of the world. In his works, he is guided by the principles inherent in music or dance. Almost always he negates the frame as a technical limitation of the work's surface, but sometimes he deliberately narrows these boundaries. For the artist, painting is a language, a "writing". The artist returns painting to its literal essence - the principle according to which language becomes alive, "living writing", becomes the boundary between image and narrative, being on both fields at the same time. In this way, in its perspective, an abstract drawing can hold meaning. His artistic practices include painting, drawing on paper, and working with spatial objects.
In 1965 graduated from Kyiv Art School. 1965–1971 — graduated from Kyiv Art Institute, UA: Monumental Painting Department under the supervision of Academician Tetiana Yablonska. In 1972, Budnikov began teaching painting and composition at the monumental painting department of the Kyiv State Art Institute. Since 1969, he has started an intense exhibition activity. Since 1989, he has been living and working in Berlin for long periods, where in 1993 his works were the topic for dissertation at the Humboldt University of Berlin. Several of his solo exhibitions were held in Vienna, Paris, and Berlin, etc. In 2002, he was awarded the degree of professor at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture. Also, he was invited to teach painting in Huzhou. The artist spends six months in China, during which he teaches, travels around the country, works and creates a series of paintings. Since 2011, he has been creating projects from time to time in dialogue with the artist Vlada Ralko. Member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine (since 1975) and Honoured Artist of Ukraine. In 2019, he was awarded the Order for Intellectual Courage by the Independent magazine "Ї".
Since 2022, the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he has mostly lived and worked in Berlin. His joint projects with Vlada Ralko have been exhibited in Berlin, Prague, Paris, Bialystok, and Poznan.
Summary
Each form of mine is in flux, figurative works morph into abstractions, and vice versa. While working on the series «Realism?» I would compare my work to the moving structures of an overgrown garden. The way wild nature influences or submits to order is evocative of changes in my visual tropes over time. Reality works in mysterious ways, but some rules and movements can be limned out in the visible world. I watch out for these lines. They are obscure as riddles. I express what I saw with my lines and actions, through my works: many of the things that are important to me are impossible to put into words. (Volodymyr Budnikov)
Selected solo exhibitions
2023
- VALUABLES (with Vlada Ralko), Riegelbau des Bildungszentrum Bestehornpark, Ashersleben;
- POLITIKAL ANATOMY (with Vlada Ralko), Arsenal Municipal Gallery, Poznan
2022
- NOT A DREAM, ArtEast Gallery, Berlin;
- QUESTIONING THE VISIBLE, Galeria Arsenal, Białystok;
- 21 Děl pro-Ukrajinu, Trypolska Gallery, Topičově salon, Prague;
- POUR l`UKRAINE, Trypolska Gallery, Paris;
- TIME OF WAR, SMAC Space, Berlin; BESSERE WELT, Galerie UDO WÜRTENBERGER, Berlin
2021
- VICTORY - TRIUMPH - REST, Lviv National Art Gallery, Lviv;
- INSCRIPTION, Odesa National Art Museum, Odesa
2020
- SHELTER FOR LIGHT, Lviv National Art Gallery, Lviv;
- HIDDEN, Ya-Gallery Art Centre, Kyiv
2019
- VALUABLE THINGS, ChervoneChorne Gallery, Kaniv;
- FLIGH, Ya-Gallery Art Centre, Kyiv
2018
- FREEDOM AND HER GHOST, ChervoneChorne Gallery, Kaniv
2017
- ТHREE STEPS (with Vlada Ralko), Central House of Artists, Kyiv;
- REALISM?, Ya-Gallery Art Centre, Kyiv;
- QUESTIONING THE VISIBLE, National Taras Shevchenko Museum
2016
- CONTACT LINE, ChervoneChorne Gallery, Kaniv
2014
- MY CRIMEA – OUR CRIMEA, Bottega Gallery, Kyiv
2013
- OBJECTS, Ya-Gallery Art Centre, Kyiv
2012
- REFLECTION, ARSENALE 2012, Scherbenko Art Centre, Kyiv
2010
- LANDSCAPE. RETROSPECTIVE, National Museum «Kyiv Picture Gallery»;
- CLOUDS, Bottega Gallery, Kyiv
2009
- PARADISE, Bottega Gallery, Kyiv
2007
- HUNTING, Ya-Gallery Art Centre, Kyiv;
- BATTLE, Lavra Gallery, Kyiv; DRAWINGS, CCN Graz
2006
- NEW WORKS, Karas Gallery, Kyiv
2005
- METAPHYSICS OF CODE, Lavra Municipal Gallery, Kyiv
2003
- INFINITE JOURNEY, Atelier Karas Gallery, Kyiv
2001
- DRAWINGS, Lavra Municipal Gallery, Kyiv;
- PERSONAL EXHIBITION, In den Gerbgruben Gallery, Burgenland
2000
- RETROSPECTIVE, L-Art Gallery, Kyiv
1999
- OBJECTS, CCA Soviart, Kyiv
1998
- OASIS, Central House of Artists, Kyiv
1997
- SOLO EXHIBITION, EEG, Berlin
1996
- WHITE IN WHITE, Central House of Artists, Kyiv
1995
- SECRET OF LIFE, Alipii Gallery, Kyiv;
- SOLO EXHIBITION, Egermann Palace, Burgenland
1994
- SOLO EXHIBITION, Intercontinental Gallery, Berlin;
- SOLO EXHIBITION, Sergey Popov Gallery, Berlin
1993
- SOLO EXHIBITION, Loggia Gallery, Hilton, Vienna;
- SOLO EXHIBITION, K. D, Eparne Gallery, Toulouse
1992
- SOLO EXHIBITION, Inselshtrasse 13 Gallery, Berlin
1991
- SOLO EXHIBITION, Handerswerband, Vienna
Selected group exhibitions
2023
- HOW ARE YOU?, Ukrainian House, Kyiv;
- CONVERSATION 2. Leszno Municipal Art Exhibition Office, Leszno;
- THE TIME HAS COME, Open Society Foundations, Berlin
2022
- PIAZZA UKRAINA, Venice Biennale, Venice;
- THE CAPTURED HOUSE, Alte Münze, Berlin;
- PAINTING IN EXCESS: KYIV`S ART REVIVAL, 1985–1993, Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers
2021
- HAVA NAGILA, Melitopol Museum of Local Lore, Melitopol;
- TIME THAT IS NOT LOST, Primorsk; Exhibition Centre, Zaporizhzhia
2018
- QUESTIONING THE VISIBLE, Kyiv Art Week, Kyiv;
- UKRAINIAN STILL LIFE, Modern Art Research Institute of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Kyiv
2016
- ART SCHOOL, National Museum «Kyiv Picture Gallery», Kyiv
2015
- SHELTER, ChervoneChorne Gallery, Art Kyiv, Art Arsenal
2014
- T.H., National Taras Shevchenko Museum, Kyiv;
- UKRAINIAN LANDSCAPE. BEYOND DESPAIR …, Art Arsenal, Kyiv
2013
- ART-KYIV, Art Arsenal, Kyiv;
- HEAT, Grand Sculpture Salon, Art Arsenal, Kyiv
2011
- HEAT, ART-KYIV, Art Arsenal, Kyiv
2008
- GOGOL-FEST, Art Arsenal, Kyiv
2004
- FAREWELL TO ARMS, Art Arsenal, Kyiv
2003
- FIRST COLLECTION, Central House of Artists, Kyiv
2000
- NEW TRENDS, Central House of Artists, Kyiv
1999
- XX ARTISTS OF UKRAINE. THE END OF THE CENTURY, Atelier Karas Gallery, Kyiv;
- SCULPTURE TRIENNALE, Central House of Artists, Kyiv
1996
- UKRAINIAN AVANTGARDE 1910–1996, Odense
Public collections
Lviv National Art Gallery, Lviv; National Art Museum of Ukraine, Kyiv; National Museum «Kyiv Art Gallery», Kyiv; Dnipro Museum of Fine Arts; Chernihiv Museum of Fine Arts; Berdiansk Museum of Fine Arts; O.V.Suvorov Izmail Museum; Kirovohrad Local History Museum; Mykolaiv Museum of Fine Arts; Museum of Kyiv History; Zaporizhia Museum of Fine Arts; the Ludwig Forum for International Art in Aachen; Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin; Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers, New Jersey; Berliner Bank, Berlin; Deutsche Bank, Berlin; AWT, Vienna.