Once in a year I open my doors to the world to show my work. Wet Plates, salt prints and other analog artworks are all the time part of it. This year everything was different and I couldn’t be more happy about that, because the But’ko art family www.butkoart.com was part of it. This Exhibition was part of “Tage der offenen Ateliers” https://www.tdoa.at/ organized by the https://www.kulturvernetzung.at/
Some collaborations simply work, and ours was one of them. The fusion of two distinct artistic worlds, exceptional one of a kind paintings and a truly wonderful way of seeing the world around us. Combined with my own view and way of capturing things, made for a perfect alliance in our exhibition.
It was, in every sense, a Willy Wonka of artworks: a taste of oil and watercolor magic, alongside handmade silver plates and other analog wonders. A cabinet of curiosities for anyone who still believes in the beauty of things made by hand.
What made it even more rewarding was seeing how visitors responded. Two such different bodies of work, hanging side by side and people loved exactly that contrast. Some lingered in front of the paintings, others were drawn to the analog pieces, and many told us how much they enjoyed experiencing both worlds in one place. That dialogue between the two was clearly something the audience felt too.
So many great discussions, questions, explanations and a hand on workshop. All fulfilled with passion and knowledge about our work.
But beyond the art itself, what I cherished most was the process. Creating side by side, watching two visions slowly become one. Ideas bounced back and forth, techniques merged, and something emerged that neither of us could have made alone.
That’s the real magic of collaboration. Not just the finished pieces hanging on the wall, but the journey shared in getting there.
To get an idea who they are, a brief description of this family full of artists:
Gennadiy But’ko is a monumental artist. His large-scale projects have been realized in various cities in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. He regularly participates in international plein air painting events. His paintings are held in private collections in Europe, the United States, and Asia.
Tetyana But’ko is an artist, watercolorist, and designer. She works with graphics and illustrations, has collaborated with publishers and advertising agencies, and has completed projects for private and corporate clients.
Maria But’ko is an artist and designer with extensive experience in the gaming industry, where she held a senior professional position. She has participated in and won awards at international and national exhibitions and competitions, and is a member of the Young Artists’ Association and the Kharkiv art restoration association Red Horse.
This exhibition showed also for the very first time my Art Pixie books, more in an upcoming posting.
Scroll down for some photos (by Wolfgang Leitzinger, Thanks a lot!)
