I, Andriy Humeniuk, was born on November 28, 1957 in the city of Lviv.

For four years, I attended the Art School for Children in Lviv. After completing the School, the painter Valeriy Hnatenko (1947-1987) took me under his artistic wing. Likewise, artist Ivan Ostafiychuk introduced me to graphic arts.

In 1979, I entered the Lviv Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts (today, the Lviv Academy of Arts), from which I graduated in 1984.

Then, I became involved with the newly-founded Les' Kurbas Youth Theater in Lviv, where, as their stage designer, I also created posters and booklets. At the same time, I worked in painting and graphics.

In 1987, I became one of the founding members of "Shlakh" (The Way), the first Artists' Union to be organized in Ukraine as an alternative to the official Union of Soviet Artists.

In 1989, I traveled throughout Canada, showing my works in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and?in absentia?New York City.

I have participated in numerous regional and international exhibits, and also took part in various artistic actions. I am a member of the Dzyga Artists' Union.

In 1996, I arrived to the United States where I became gainfully employed.

After six years of losses, the current exhibit is a matter of reanimation—or, more precisely, self-rehabilitation?most likely unsuccessful one. One cannot turn back six years and one cannot redeem one's betrayed calling with a few paintings.

However, this is only a matter of the artist's conscience.

Therefore, I propose to you that which, in spite of all the work struggle, I was able to achieve.

I do not wish to delve into my own concept of Plastic Art because this is a useless matter. And indeed, is it worth discussing?

In the words of Henri Matisse, "Art is a matter of the soul." And the soul is an unfathomable matter. Any writing about the unfathomable in most of the cases smacks of charlatanry. For this reason—at least here—let us save ourselves from it.

Andriy Humeniuk
August 27, 2001
New York City

P.S. After this exhibit, I going back to Ukraine in order to return to my own self through my art.