Yevhenii Shapovalov Discusses 'Pressure of Mass' Series and Deformation of the Human Body

Lviv-based artist Yevhenii Shapovalov is currently focused on his new series, Pressure of Mass, in which he investigates the human body, its deformation, and internal tension. He is particularly interested in how far he can distort the human figure while retaining a sense of living flesh. The series is featured on Singulart, where each work demonstrates different possibilities of bodily transformation. Shapovalov cites Francis Bacon's interviews and Gabriel García Márquez's novel The Autumn of the Patriarch as key influences, drawn to their depictions of living flesh, physical deterioration, and decay. His artistic practice developed independently, outside formal academic settings, a path he believes allowed him the freedom to experiment without predefined boundaries. He combines figurative painting with expressive abstraction and physical deformation, a blend that has always been present in his work. Mythology also plays a significant role; he reinterprets mythological narratives through his own artistic language, deforming familiar forms to offer new perspectives. Shapovalov notes that his painting is primarily shaped by his inner state of mind and perception of the present moment, rather than directly by the history or atmosphere of Lviv or Ukraine. He continues to explore new possibilities in the Pressure of Mass series, though he prefers not to reveal upcoming ideas before they are realized on canvas. The interview was published on Singulart Magazine on October 10, 2026.