ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARITIME ART GALLERY
OF THE ODESSA TRADE SEAPORT

 

In 2008, the Maritime Art Gallery will celebrate its 15th anniversary!

The Gallery, created on the initiative of Tatiana Binovska and Radu Binovski in 1993, enjoys popularity and appreciation not only among the inhabitants of Odessa and visitors of our city but also in the European art community.

 The Gallery is really unique first of all because of its exhibition space obtained thanks to an extraordinary person, Hero of Ukraine, Director of the Odessa Port Nikolai Pavliuk.

 The area of the Gallery is 1,070 square meters. And as far as its activities are concerned (organization of solo and group exhibitions, projects, conferences, creative and international meetings), the Gallery is one of a kind in the world. Besides mounting shows, the Gallery conceives and realizes its own art projects such as, for example, MARINA International Marine Art Biennial that has regularly taken place for 14 years already. Many people will remember the project dedicated to the star of silent movies Vera Holodnaya “The Last Tango”. For 6 years the Gallery has organized its Christmas Project in collaboration with the Odessa Diocese. Recently, the contacts between the Gallery and international institutions have been getting stronger; an example is the French Cultural Center which helped to organize exhibitions of works by French artists, such as the Louvre Art Director Philippe Apeloig.

Over the 15 years of the Gallery’s existence, more than 150 exhibitions have taken place here and about 500 artists from thirty countries presented their works. 

The Gallery’s high level and its splendid exhibition space allow to invite internationally-renowned artists. Our visitors had an opportunity to get acquainted with the art of the outstanding Finnish architect of the last century Alvar Aalto as well as with works by the genial graphic artist Luis Ortega and Philippe Apeloig. And the most extraordinary artist of our time Volker Kuhn has become a friend both of the Gallery and the entire country. The most important show held recently was an exhibition of works by Tatiana Yablonskaya, courtesy of the artist’s family.

And the latest project created by the Gallery - “Sea Ocean” - which saw five famous Ukrainian artists paint the Odessa port at night, is certainly becoming a global event for all mankind.

 Regular publications of promotional material, albums and catalogues, a constantly updated website, prominent coverage by mass media of all the events organized by the Gallery as well as an increasing number of sponsors make it possible to consider the Gallery a real CENTER OF CONTEMPORARY ART. 

 

Tatiana Binovska
Maritime Art Gallery