'Dubai always inspires me': Meet the artist behind iconic 'Shadow Man'

Anna Chekh, a prominent Ukrainian artist celebrated for her diverse artistic expressions, shares insights into her recent endeavours and successes. From captivating audiences with her immersive art installations at DIFC Art Nights to pioneering innovative digital experiences, Chekh's journey is one of continuous exploration and creativity.

In a conversation with City Times, Anna discusses her inspiration behind iconic creations like the 'Shadow Man', her groundbreaking collaborations, and her upcoming exhibitions that promise to mesmerise global audiences. Excerpts from the interview:

Can you tell us about your experience presenting your art world, including pictures, art objects, digital art, and art furniture at DIFC Art Nights 2024? What was the reception like from attendees?

It was an amazing experience because I presented my entire art world which includes many directions. I created corner which I named art home at DIFC. CEOs and top management of DIFC really liked this idea - I even placed a carpet, some chairs and lamps for more cosy home vibes. Because contemporary art is not just about art objects or pictures, it’s lifestyle in general. And it was so exciting also because I presented my first furniture item – the coffee table or horse table because it’s a horse which has a plate in its mouth. This table found its owner and new home at once. And, of course, new colours from my bestseller collection “Shadow Man” were also presented at the event, with the art objects being sold immediately after.

Winning the award for the best innovative NFT collection by ftNFT is a remarkable achievement. Could you share more about the artistic application that allows people to create their own digital art using your palette and elements? What inspired you to create this platform?

My main inspiration is people. As an artist, I am always trying to find new experiences that I can create for my audience. Last summer, during one of my solo exhibitions at Dubai Mall, I decided to prepare a special interactive installation which would allow my audience to become creators for a short period. With the help of my team, I developed an application featuring a diverse palette of colourful art elements. Users could create their own digital art which they could even list as a non-fungible token (NFT). And just for the opening evening, 200 unique digital art pieces were created. This installation became a magnetic station for adults and kids.

Your inclusion in the "Artists in Focus 2024" book, presented at Art Dubai, highlights your growing prominence in the art world. What does it mean to you to be featured in this publication alongside other esteemed artists?

It means a big credit of trust and assessment. It’s a big honour to be on the same page with other well-known and popular local artists. This just motivates me to grow more and to make cool and useful projects here in the UAE.

The 'Shadow Man' character has become a recognisable figure in Dubai, and your collections featuring 'Shadow Man' are highly sought after. Can you share more about the inspiration behind this character and its significance in your art?

This is the main character in my art. In my opinion, he is an image of our generation. Because like all of us, he likes to be everywhere and explore everything around him. But at the same time, he stays in a shadow – we don’t know who he is. He is faceless, he keeps his private life, values, secrets etc with him – like his sphere which he is embracing very tightly. So I guess we are like 'Shadow Man' more or less.

How was the experience of presenting your 'Shadow Man' collection at a private event in Dubai alongside Banksy artworks? What was the response from collectors and attendees?

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