In collaboration with the Ukrainian and Swiss Embassies in Denmark, von Bartha is pleased to present a pop up exhibition by Ukrainian artist Mark Gres (22 June – 1 July 2022) in the gallery’s Copenhagen space.

The exhibition presents fifteen works by Gres reflecting his artistic practice, which centers around painting formed during his time serving in the army where he drew visual aids for a military hospital using feather quill pens and ink – the only materials available to him. This limited access to materials in turn significantly shaped his artistic style. For his latest exhibition at von Bartha Copenhagen, the artist‘s unique approach is visible in the detailed motives of the artworks which depict narratives about all kinds of creatures and their shared relations. As part of their provenance, all fifteen artworks in the exhibition carry with them a reminder of the current condition of our times. The works were brought to Denmark by Gres’ wife as she fled Kyiv following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. All proceeds from this exhibition will go towards the organisation Bevar Ukraine, which provides equipment for children‘s hospitals in Ukraine.

ABOUT MARK GRES
Mark Gres (born 1968, Kyiv) studied at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture Kyiv. Besides having achieved national renown as an artist, he is also known as a screen writer and television journalist in Ukraine. Past exhibitions include the presentation in the International Convention Center “Ukrainian House” of The Gulliver where the artist had drawn around 10,000 characters on a piece of paper measuring 2 x 3 meters. On the exhibition at von Bartha Copenhagen, the artist states that it is an honour to have the opportunity to show his works in Denmark and that he hopes they are of interest and relevant to a Danish and wider European audience.

ABOUT BEVAR UKRAINE
Founded in 2014, the main goal of the Denmark-based aid organisation Bevar Ukraine is to deliver humanitarian aid to the citizens of Ukraine, providing material assistance to IDPs, health facilities, schools as well as institutions for children and the elderly. Since 2014 Bevar Ukraine has delivered help to 673 hospitals and educational institutions.