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WE • ALEXANDER NIKOLENKO • 2020

Exactly a century ago, Yevgeny Zamyatin published his novel «We», which later

served as a source of inspiration for the books by Aldous Huxley («Brave New
World», 1932) and George Orwell («1984», 1949). In the same crucial historical
period of time, Kazimir Malevich plunged into the study of the infinite space
of the human skull and began to create a neo-Suprematist «unified system of

world architecture of the earth». In 2020, which has been a significant and not
an easy year for all mankind, the artist Alexander Nikolenko presents his art
project «WE» in the Art Square gallery in St.-Petersburg.

The art project develops the theme of the «Golden Age» exhibition, which was
held two years ago in the House of Journalists in St.-Petersburg. Interpersonal
and social communication crisis, articulated then, acquired particular relevance
in 2020. Artist created most of his works in the technique of oil painting on

paper, combining both organic and mechanistic motives. Immersion in the
topic of human schematic portraits and profiles reflects the author’s perception
of transhumanist concepts.

Neo-Suprematist archetypes and symbols in communication are the central
line of the presented works of art by Alexander Nikolenko. The artist dedicated
them to the characters of Zamyatin’s novels.

Artist gained 30 years of experience in the field of not only contemporary art, but
also VR and digital modernization. This crucial year 2020 Alexander Nikolenko
conveys a warning message to humanity through his paintings, which can be
noted in the novel «We»: the growing risks of destruction of the organic unity of

logic and compassion in society.

Rimma Kirillova,
art historian, member of the Association for Art History

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