Drawing by Vitaliy Dmytruk

Created during a live session with a nude model, this work is part of an extensive series of over 140 studies. Here, the profound black void acts as a psychological filter, isolating the body and stripping away the unnecessary to reveal the raw tension and vulnerability of the human form. Each expressive stroke captures a surge of living energy, preserving the authenticity of the moment The BLACK PASTELS series was born in 2022, following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Originally,it was a way for the artist to ensure his artistic practice did not cease during a time when working with complex intellectual concepts felt impossible for moral reasons. Eventually,what began as a search for sincerity and a focus on expression evolved into a profound exploration of presence. These 15-minute nude life sessions, held in studios and galleries across Kyiv and Lviv, stand as a testament to remaining true to the creative impulse — a visceral relic of physical form and inner presence.