Description

This evocative piece, Dream Fragments. Breakfast. Day 129, is part of Artem Pogribnyy’s deeply personal Dream Fragments series, created in 2022 amid the turmoil of the war in Ukraine. Pogribnyy, forced to leave his beloved Kharkiv after the first explosions, channels his longing for pre-war harmony into this work. The series reflects his dreams—vivid memories of home, loved ones, and travels—offering a poignant escape from the anxiety and uncertainty of conflict. As the artist himself describes, each painting in the series captures a specific day of the war, blending reality and dreamlike nostalgia into a single, emotional narrative. In this piece, Pogribnyy depicts a serene, classical female figure holding a small boat filled with butterflies, a symbol of fragility and fleeting beauty. Surrounding her are more butterflies, floating against a fragmented, urban backdrop that hints at architectural forms—a nod to Pogribnyy’s signature “urban architectural romanticism.” The soft interplay of blues, greens, and golden hues creates a dreamlike atmosphere, while the subtle optical illusions and anamorphic elements, for which the artist is known, invite viewers to question the boundaries between reality and imagination. Executed in a modernist style with surrealist influences, reminiscent of René Magritte, the work balances meticulous draftsmanship with conceptual depth, evoking both tranquility and a haunting sense of displacement. Perfect for collectors seeking emotionally charged, thought-provoking art, Dream Fragments. Breakfast. Day 129 captures the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity, making it a profound addition to any contemporary collection. #ArtemPogribnyy, #DreamFragments, #UkrainianArt, #Modernism, #Surrealism, #ContemporaryPainting, #UrbanRomanticism, #ArtDuringWar, #SmaltaArtGallery, #Artsy