WODEMAN, BORN IN 1975

Wodeman is the artistic name of Oleh Derevianko (b. 1975) — an  artist, author, and thinker whose work is rooted in metaphysical inquiry, symbolism, and emotional expression. 

 

After a long career in Ukrainian business, civil society, and public service, he turned decisively in 2023 toward a focused artistic practice.

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In 2024 Oleh’s work as an artist was first presented to the public in a debut solo exhibition under the name Wodeman. His engagement with the professional art scene, however, dates back to the early 2000s, when he was active as a part-time curator and supporter of art projects. Since the 1990s, Oleh has also continuously studied and explored history and philosophy of art, as well as art as a practice and a way of living.          

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Working across oil, pastel, photography, digital, and mixed media, Wodeman creates series of artworks that reflect his artistic philosophy, articulated in his manifesto Principles of Modal Realism in Arts (2025). Poetry, prose, music, and contemplation are also indispensable parts of his artistic work.    

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Born in 1975 in a small town in the forest-rich northern region of Ukraine, Wodeman has lived in Kyiv since 1992, when not traveling the world or retreating to his beloved countryside.