Nazar Strelyaev-Nazarko – Butterfly Hunt
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Ncontemporary is pleased to present Butterfly hunt, first solo show of the Ukranian artist Nazar Strelyaev-Nazarko (1998, Ukraine) in Venice, which delves into the interplay between memory, childhood, and survival in the face of conflict. The exhibition presents a series of paintings that depict adults reenacting childhood games, intertwining the personal and the symbolic. Born and raised in Kharkiv, a city that boasts a rich and diverse cultural heritage shaped by its historical significance, intellectual legacy, and artistic traditions however today profoundly impacted by the war, Strelyaev-Nazarko draws on his memories to reflect on how trauma and resilience transform our relationship with the past. His works explore a profound truth: the way we remember is often selective, favoring moments of humor, tenderness, and innocence even in the darkest times.
For Strelyaev-Nazarko, the trauma of historical cataclysm profoundly shapes one’s perspective. As a child, political turmoil fades into the background, overshadowed by more immediate concerns like play, curiosity, and familial love. These memories are often paradoxical, turning painful or uncomfortable moments from childhood into something deeply cherished. The once-hated task of his mother removing lice from his hair, for instance, has now transformed into a tender and loving memory—an act of care and survival that in hindsight evokes warmth rather than dread.
This nostalgic transformation of memory is the driving force behind the exhibition. The adults in Strelyaev-Nazarko’s paintings are not simply playing games for fun, but rather embodying their childhood selves. In “Astronomer”, a woman peers through a telescope with a childlike curiosity, yet she clutches an axe in her other hand. The juxtaposition of these two objects—a tool of wonder and one of violence—reflects a complex reality where the pursuit of knowledge and curiosity is shadowed by a constant awareness of danger.
