Valery Kot (1950) - Alchemy of Time
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Estimate € 700 - € 800
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Alchemy of Time is an original hand-signed oil painting from Ukraine (2015) by Valery Kot, a surrealist portrait measuring 50 × 40 cm.
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Description from the seller
In Alchemy of Time, Ukrainian artist Kot Valeriy constructs a dreamlike landscape in which fragments of memory, architecture and human identity merge into a single symbolic realm. Executed in a refined surrealist language, the composition unfolds through fluid forms and shifting perspectives, inviting the viewer into a world where chronology and reality appear suspended.
A central figure emerges from a labyrinth of elongated structures, celestial motifs and enigmatic details. References to classical vessels, marine imagery and imaginary architecture create a visual narrative that feels simultaneously ancient and futuristic. The work’s warm palette of ochres, rose tones and luminous blues lends the composition a meditative quality, while its meticulous execution reveals the artist’s technical precision.
Rather than offering a fixed interpretation, Alchemy of Time encourages contemplation. The painting speaks to transformation, memory and the continual reconstruction of personal and collective histories. Its symbolic vocabulary echoes the traditions of European Surrealism while maintaining a distinctly contemporary sensibility.
Created in Kyiv in 2015, the work reflects Kot Valeriy’s fascination with metaphysical themes and his ability to translate philosophical ideas into richly imaginative imagery.
A powerful and contemplative example of contemporary European surrealism.
About the Artist:
Valeriy Kot (Ukraine, 1950) studied architecture and worked in architectural studios in Kyiv before dedicating himself fully to painting in 1985. Fascinated by surrealism from an early stage, he began developing his own visual language in the late 1970s and held his first exhibition in 1979. Since the mid-1980s his work has been exhibited regularly in Ukraine and internationally, including exhibitions in Berlin and Belgium. Kot’s paintings are known for their imaginative structures, philosophical undertones, and dreamlike compositions that merge natural, historical, and symbolic elements.
—
Curated by Havisham & Co.
Instagram: @havishamco
Website: www.havishamco.com
Seller's Story
Havisham & Co. was founded on the belief that contemporary art can still carry a sense of heritage. Working from London, we collaborate closely with a small group of artists whose practices are informed by classical balance, symbolism, and material depth. Havisham & Co. was founded on the belief that contemporary art can still carry a sense of heritage. Working from London, we collaborate closely with a small group of artists whose practices are informed by classical balance, symbolism, and material depth.
Instagram: havishamco
In Alchemy of Time, Ukrainian artist Kot Valeriy constructs a dreamlike landscape in which fragments of memory, architecture and human identity merge into a single symbolic realm. Executed in a refined surrealist language, the composition unfolds through fluid forms and shifting perspectives, inviting the viewer into a world where chronology and reality appear suspended.
A central figure emerges from a labyrinth of elongated structures, celestial motifs and enigmatic details. References to classical vessels, marine imagery and imaginary architecture create a visual narrative that feels simultaneously ancient and futuristic. The work’s warm palette of ochres, rose tones and luminous blues lends the composition a meditative quality, while its meticulous execution reveals the artist’s technical precision.
Rather than offering a fixed interpretation, Alchemy of Time encourages contemplation. The painting speaks to transformation, memory and the continual reconstruction of personal and collective histories. Its symbolic vocabulary echoes the traditions of European Surrealism while maintaining a distinctly contemporary sensibility.
Created in Kyiv in 2015, the work reflects Kot Valeriy’s fascination with metaphysical themes and his ability to translate philosophical ideas into richly imaginative imagery.
A powerful and contemplative example of contemporary European surrealism.
About the Artist:
Valeriy Kot (Ukraine, 1950) studied architecture and worked in architectural studios in Kyiv before dedicating himself fully to painting in 1985. Fascinated by surrealism from an early stage, he began developing his own visual language in the late 1970s and held his first exhibition in 1979. Since the mid-1980s his work has been exhibited regularly in Ukraine and internationally, including exhibitions in Berlin and Belgium. Kot’s paintings are known for their imaginative structures, philosophical undertones, and dreamlike compositions that merge natural, historical, and symbolic elements.
—
Curated by Havisham & Co.
Instagram: @havishamco
Website: www.havishamco.com
Seller's Story
Havisham & Co. was founded on the belief that contemporary art can still carry a sense of heritage. Working from London, we collaborate closely with a small group of artists whose practices are informed by classical balance, symbolism, and material depth. Havisham & Co. was founded on the belief that contemporary art can still carry a sense of heritage. Working from London, we collaborate closely with a small group of artists whose practices are informed by classical balance, symbolism, and material depth.
Instagram: havishamco
Details
Artist
Valery Kot (1950)
Sold with frame
No
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
Alchemy of Time
Technique
Oil painting
Signature
Hand signed
Country of origin
Ukraine
Year
2015
Condition
Excellent condition
Height
50 cm
Width
40 cm
Depiction/theme
Portrait
Style
Surrealism
Period
2010-2020
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