Yury Lobo, has been dubbed “Jack The Whipper” by his fellow American artists. He was raised in a small rural town in Russia, in a conservative environment, where the signs “No Trespassing” hung on every door. By pure chance in 1959, at the age of 12, he and his mother attended the first American Exhibition in Moscow. Besides Cadillac cars and Coca Cola, Yury was particularly struck by the action painting, “Cathedral” by American abstract expressionist, Jackson Pollock ( Jack The Dripper). That day changed the trajectory of his life forever. Pushing boundaries, ignoring all “No Trespassing” signs internally and externally, Yury found freedom in the United States. He has finally fully opened up to new heights of artistic expression. The race to catch up with Pollock is ongoing… The Rickie Report shares details of his SOLO Exhibition at Artworks International in West Palm Beach, FL, February 12-13th. The public is invited to this Free Exhibit and there is ample free parking.
Y U R Y L O B O
Since his early childhood, Yury Slobodenuk has been fascinated with the world of wild colors and the art of collage. However, he never considered becoming a professional artist partly due to the lack of encouragement from his parents and partly due to the general disapproval of this “degenerate art” by the Soviet authorities. What stands out in his memory is a visit to the first American National Exhibition with his mother in July, 1959, featuring among others, Jackson Pollock’s “Cathedral”. Yury was shocked and amazed at the same time. He tells The Rickie Report, “Most visitors considered it a joke..in bad taste. But the impact on my subconscious at the age of 12 was life changing. That is why my interests centered later on with more avant-garde artists. I appreciate Van Gogh, Chagall, Kandinsky, Malevich, Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Brague, Warhol, Rothko, Klimt, Shiele, Modigliani and of course, Pollock.”
“Composition #2” by Yury Lobo
Homage to Kasimir Malevich
Acrylic on Canvas
48″ x 60″
Yury created a few paintings for close friends and family, trusting his inner instincts. Back then, in the USSR he didn’t have the courage to paint and share his passion for abstract expressionism and collage publicly. Keeping his painting mostly to himself, he pursued a career that was more economically sound. He received a Masters degree in German and English, studied the history of art and worked as a licensed multilingual guide at the majors art museums in the former USSR. He became a journalist, interpreter, German teacher, TV script writer.
“Yellow Tulips after a violent snowstorm in May” by Yury Lobo
Homage to Vincent Van Gogh
Acrylic on Board
24″ x 36″
Having fled the USSR in 1991 for political reasons, Yury first established himself in Miami and pursued his journalism career, working for several Russian-American newspapers. Later, he started one of his own, but sold it in 2007 and moved to West Palm Beach, where he continues his career as a German teacher and now a contemporary artist. The freedom of expression in America has motivated and inspired Yury to fulfill the dream of his youth – sharing his creative side publicly. His artistic name, “Lobo” is a shortened form of his long Ukrainian last name, “Slobodenyuk”, which translates to ” a free man”. “Lobo” means “wolf”, the symbol of the tireless will, yearning for freedom.
“Infinity At My Fingertips” by Yury Lobo
Homage to Jackson Pollock
Acrylic on Board 27″ x 32″
Yury tells The Rickie Report, ” My fellow countryman, Kasimir Malevich once said, ‘Comrades, arise, free yourselves from the tyranny of objects!’ In this sense, I, like him, consider myself an abstract artist and a revolutionary. My battle cry is ‘Stop copying the world! Create a new one!’ Whoever is afraid of bright colors is afraid of life, which I am not”. Furthermore, Yuri confesses, ” I know it sounds nuts, but I consider myself a kind of modern reincarnation of the late Jackson Pollock who, in his own words was a “cowboy” painter. Like him, I’m painting “from the hip”, creating huge abstract compositions within minutes, using brusque wild strokes of bold colors. Some of my colleagues (part joking, part serious) are dubbing me “Jack The Whipper” for whipping that canvas with paint instead of dripping it as Jack The Dripper (Jackson Pollock) did”.
“Americana” by Yury Lobo
Homage to Elvis and Marilyn
Mixed Media on Board
29″ x 35″
Yury goes on to explain, “In the art of collage, I represent a completely different point of view. My slightly distorted collages are pretty close to reality and filled with hidden ironies and sometimes tragic messages. Being a history buff, I can’t help but act as the mocking bird, laughing at the human inability to learn from history…which of course sees that such ignorance is doomed to repeat itself. Every collage is a “time capsule” with a message to future generations. A true artist is about the inner energy which he or she tunnels to the public through the art. If there is no reaction at the receiving end, then the energy was either poor or lost in artistic translation”.
“American Mosaic” by Yury Lobo
Collage
21″ x 36″
Yury’s artwork is currently being featured at:
Artworks International
420 6th Street West Palm Beach, FL
February 13 – 14th
The Singer Island Corporate Center
2655 North Ocean Drive
Singer Island, FL
and
Art On Park Gallery
800 Park Avenue Lake Park, FL
For more information about Yury’s artwork and up coming exhibits, please email:
Visit Yury’s website:
(Currently Under Construction)
For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:
Rickie Leiter, Publisher
The Rickie Report
P.O.Box 33423
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420
561-537-0291
