Pinchuk Art Centre, from the richest businessmen in Ukraine
This international centre for contemporary art of the 21st century is one of the largest private museums in Eastern Europe and one of the most known world brands of the Ukrainian capital. It was opened by Victor Pinchuk’s Fund in September 2006. Victor Pinchuk is one of the richest businessmen in Ukraine, he is married to the daughter of Leonid Kuchma (the second President of Ukraine), he is a well known sponsor and art-supporter in Europe, he has very close personal and business ties with world famous music, pop-art and other celebrities. The gallery is located in the very centre of Kiev on the Bessarabskaia square in the old building that was reconstructed at the very beginning of the 20th century, its interior was designed by French architect Philipp Chimbaretto. The main mission of the Centre is the modernization of Ukrainian Arts, support of new artistic generation, implementation of modern art ideas. The centre directs numerous educational programmes, supports cultures projects in Ukraine, and organizes exhibitions of Ukrainian and foreign modern masters in painting, sculpture, photo and applied arts. Besides the regular temporary exhibition the Centre has its own permanent collection that numbers more than 500 pieces of art. Some may think that all these exhibits are provocative, but thanks to this the popularity of the Centre grows every day. It is an ideal venue for masterworks and workgroups by outstanding artists of our time which reflect and represent the complexity of the world, transforming it into a unique and new form. This sustainably determines its work and creates a corporate identity in the following fields of activity: collection, exhibitions, projects, communication, education, publications and research. In 2007, 2009 and in 2011 the Pinchuk Art Centre presented Ukraine at the Venice Biennale. The centre acquainted the visitors with many famous exhibitions, only some of them: “Vik Muniz: A Survey”, an exhibition by the well-known Brazilian artist Vik Muniz; “An Instinctive Eye”, a selection of contemporary photography from the Sir Elton John Collection; “Mariko Mori: Oneness”, a large scale exhibition by the Japanese artist, Mariko Mori; “Paul McCartney — Paintings”, a survey exhibition of paintings by Sir Paul McCartney; “Requiem”, the largest retrospective show of the British artist Damien Hirst; Solo exhibition of Takashi Murakami; Solo Exhibition of Cinthia Marcelle, the winner of the Main Prize of the Future Generation Art Prize2010. In October 2011 Pinchuk Art Centre opened an application call for the new Curatorial Platform – a two-year full-time program combining a theoretical and practical training. The programme is open for all Ukrainians up to 30 and will give them access to develop their competence on a high international professional level to become an expert in the curatorial work, exhibition, communication, publication, education, technique in the context of contemporary art museum.
