Juxtapoz Magazine – Save Ukraine Now Print Benefit: Bohdan Burenko on “Walking the Dog”

As we announced earlier this week, Juxtapoz has teamed with a group of Ukraine-based artists, curated by our friend Waone, to create a series of prints to benefit people on the ground in the country effected by the continued war. You can see and purchase the prints here: https://shop.juxtapoz.com/prints.html

We have spoken with each artist who has generously donated a print, and today, we speak with Kyiv-based artist Bohdan Burenko and his wonderful and complex Walking the Dog print he donated. We asked Bohdan a few questions this week, and he graciously answered. 

Evan Pricco: Talk to me about Walking the Dog? 
Bohdan Burenko: I don’t like to talk about the context of my work. It hinders the viewer’s perception. For me, the subjective experience of each viewer is important. The meanings that I invest as an author do not claim to be objective and accurate. But I will say a few words to understand the general mood.

Existential dark thoughts creep up on a person. Dark nature is always ready to show its face. Confusion and anxiety are always there. Man is the most unfortunate creature, he has an understanding of his fragility nature. We are all made of flesh and all roads lead to the ground. 

What has the past few months taught you, or what have your experiences during this war showed you about the Ukraine? 
The situation is difficult. Many people close to me, and I myself often could not stand the nerves. And this is normal in a war. In the conditions of life during sirens, bomb shelters, air strikes and bursting shells. When you wake up from the fact that your windows are shaking from the shock wave. At the moment when the life of all Ukrainians stopped or turned upside down. I began to feel the maximum connection and unity. We have something in common at one moment, one problem, one trouble and one enemy for the entire Ukrainian society. I think that there is no more united people on earth than we are now. We all became closer and dearer to each other. And there are no problems with communication, we are all for one now, despite such harsh and tragic circumstances.

You can purchase the prints at https://shop.juxtapoz.com/prints.html

All procoeeds to benefit Save Ukraine Now
https://www.saveukrainenow.if.ua/en/