The mystique of the luminous house: RP Online Article
Posted on October 10, 2016
Yury Kharchenko
Understanding Yury Kharchenko’s history is vital to understanding his art. In a recent article with RP online he talked to Bertram Müller about the forming of his Jewish identity. He first started to analyse his heritage after emigrating from Russia to Dortmund at the age of 13. Once arriving he recalls stories of being taunted in the street and being beaten by Neo-Nazis in Düsseldorf’s Old Town.
These experiences inspired Yury to look deeper into his ancestry, study the Talmud and Hebrew and painting portraits of his family. Jewish artists have always influenced him and he is happy to be counted among them, describing himself as part of the tradition of art by people of Jewish Origin. Yury uses Judaism as a key source for his art, and makes it clear that modern Jewish artists have as strong and clear a voice now as they have had in any moment in history. Kharchenko's next solo exhibition is at Galarie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, from the 4th of November 2016 to the 21st of January 2017.
In order to read the full article on RP online please follow the link.
Photography: Bertram Müller