My collaboration with MEGA ART GALLERY marks an important milestone in my artistic journey. Presenting my works (Phantom Trees#6, Phantom Trees#5)at the contemporary art fair in Forlì was a meaningful experience, further enriched by the thoughtful feedback from curator Claudio Giulianelli. His words are especially valuable to me, as they reflect exactly what I aim to convey through my photography: depth, emotion, and the living breath of nature. I am pleased to share his review in full.
MEGA ART GALLERY is pleased to welcome the Ukrainian artist, now resident in Germany, Oleksandr Shapovalov. He has presented works of profound impact, distinguished both by their evocative beauty and the sophisticated technique used to create them.
A Unique Signature Technique: Beyond the Lens
The core value and novelty of these large-scale landscapes lie in a very particular, unique signature technique:
In-Camera Creation: The artist utilizes complex image overlays and intentional movement performed entirely during the photographic shots.
Pure Photography: These works are not processed or manipulated with Photoshop. They are born from a deep mastery of the medium, where the final image is captured as a singular, authentic moment of creation.
Living Energy: This immense experience breathes life into the subjects; it almost seems as if the viewer can see the leaves moving within the frame.
Sensory Depth and Perception
While a hasty observer might classify these shots simply as "impressionist" works, there is a much deeper layer of engagement here:
Vibrations and Sensations: The images transcend mere visual representation, tapping into raw sensations and internal vibrations.
Visual Sonority: There is a distinct "sound" or musicality typical of this great Ukrainian artist, inviting the viewer to slow down and experience the forest as a space of silence and memory.
Shapovalov does not seek clarity for the sake of clarity. Instead, he explores the fragile threshold where an image has not yet become a form, but remains a pure sensation—a fluid, dreamlike presence that frees the eye from conventional expectations.
Claudio Giulianelli, June 2025