Vitalii Hetman

Artist Statement

I dream of a world where every person treats another as a fellow sufferer in life—a being caught in the same complex and often absurd condition of being alive, emerging from nothingness only to return to it. My work reflects how this dream continually recedes, as a sense of solidarity in a forsaken world is gradually overcome by the temptation to exploit others for momentary satisfaction on a journey from nowhere to nowhere.

I create portraits of fictional characters caught in the agony of being human among humans. Through these pieces, I strive to reveal the horror and futility behind what many consider great or significant events—justifications for extreme violence. This is not merely a portrait of an era; it is an expression of my perception of humanity at any point in history. Regardless of technological advancements, societal evolution, or the years passed since the presumed birth of Jesus, nothing truly changes.

I long for a future in which this affliction of life, the confinement of our consciousness within a mortal body, and our inherent dependency become more bearable. I have yet to uncover an infinite or "higher" meaning in life, as everything I rely upon is finite. Ultimately, life's meaning boils down to the simple truth that I am a person with desires and fears. However, this does not mean that such a state is permanent. I believe that we must strive to preserve this status quo for as many people as possible—safeguarding one another from the violence that threatens to rob us of our chance for miracles. Who knows what questions we will ask or how we will answer them if life ceases to be a transient phenomenon—a malady—and instead becomes an inescapable, everyday reality that can only be interrupted by our own will?

1999 born in Lozova, Ukraine.
Lives and works in Dnipro, Ukraine.

Education

Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Dnipro, Ukraine:
2020-2022. Master's degree in philosophy.
2022 - now. Postgraduate student of the philosophy department.

Other related activities

2021-2023.
Worked at Artsvit gallery, Dnipro, Ukraine as public relations and social media manager.

2022-2024.
Founded art collective ZHYZHA. In which, together with other artists, Vitalii ran a collective experimental online magazine.

2024
Organized a personal exhibition of one of the members of the art collective ZHYZHA - Yulia Kozynka. The exhibition took place in Dnipro Center for Contemporary Culture, Dnipro, Ukraine.