Matthew Morpheus
In the shadows of Great Metropolises, where art meets infinity, lives Matthew Morpheus—a master of abstraction, whose real name, Serhii Matveichenko, echoes his Ukrainian heritage. He is an artist whose works have been honored with international awards and recognition, from Beijing to Moscow, from New York to the heart of Europe, where each stroke and color embodies innovation and passion.
Having lived in Ukraine, then in Israel, and now in the United Kingdom, Morpheus has turned his art into a cosmopolitan dialogue, where each piece is a letter to the world, filled with symbolism and profound meaning. His techniques are a symbiosis of traditional and contemporary, where abstractions created with gelly roll pens, fluorescent cosmic landscapes, and collages on current themes become a bridge between reality and fantasy. The works of the artist fully convey the entire atmosphere of the 21st Century New Age concept, with its unique new cultural diversity and unusual genres and ideas
Matthew, your work is often described as a philosophical commentary on modern society. Could you delve into the foundational philosophies that guide your artistic expression and how these philosophies have evolved alongside your techniques from your early days in Ukraine to your current works in the United Kingdom?
My philosophical views have evolved along with my techniques. While I used to focus solely on inner experiences and self-discovery, I now also explore themes of cultural diversity and globalization. My work often includes hidden symbols and abstract elements that convey multi-layered meanings and provoke deep reflection in the viewer.
In Ukraine, I began by exploring different techniques and materials such as graphics, collage and spray paint. These experiments allowed me to understand how different elements interact with each other and which combinations evoke the greatest emotional response. Moving to Israel and then to the UK enriched my visual language with new cultural influences and ideas.
I strive to combine traditional techniques with contemporary elements to create unique and expressive works. Of course, the war in my country has left an indelible imprint on my perception of reality.
In embracing non-standard approaches to art, you've merged traditional mediums with contemporary themes. How do you balance the integrity of classical techniques with the innovation required to create such unique, modern pieces? Can you share an example of a project where this balance was particularly challenging to achieve?
In my work, I always strive for a balance between classical techniques and contemporary themes. This allows me to maintain the integrity of traditional techniques while innovating to create unique and contemporary work. A key aspect of this balance is a deep respect for traditional techniques and adapting them to contemporary settings.
I am currently working on a series of works in Scotland, which are technically challenging to realize. But I am confident that the project will succeed and you will see many things that push the boundaries of perception in contemporary art. So stay tuned)
Having lived and worked across various cultures—from Eastern Europe to the Middle East, and now Western Europe—how do these diverse cultural experiences influence your choice of themes and artistic techniques? Could you illustrate how a specific cultural element from each of these regions is reflected in your work?
That's a very good question. In fact, people's aspirations, aspirations and everyday life are the same everywhere. But you really begin to understand society only when truly terrible things happen - cataclysms, wars, epidemics, financial global upheavals. And only then do you realize the value of some things and the meaninglessness of others. We live in an age of war. And I... I am just a herald who just wants to anticipate events in some of my works and give hope in others.
For example, if you look closely, in the collage «New Gods» you can see religious motives inspired by my memories of the Holy Land with elements of the rapidly changing modern Anglo-Saxon financial world with its crypto-bubbles and power struggles. And in the same work you can see the confrontation between Chinese concerns AliExpress and Alibaba. And in the corner there is a shot of environmental activist Greta Thunberg wearing an a hat with ear flaps, as a reference to an old Soviet movie)
I utilized elements of graphic design and digital art to create a multi-layered and multi-valued piece. This work is not only visually appealing, but also carries deep meaning, reflecting current social and cultural trends.
As an artist known for traditional canvases as well as digital creations like NFTs, how do you see digital technology shaping the future of art? What do you think traditional artists need to understand about NFTs and the digital art space to fully engage with this new medium?
Before the war in Ukraine, I was lucky enough to work together with a Chinese NFT platform Maze. There I began to actively study digital art, which gives unlimited potential for self-expression and changes the entire financial structure of the market.
For example, all my works are certified by VerisArt, a company that uses blockchain technology to authenticate the authenticity and ownership of artworks, both physical and digital. This protects my work from counterfeiting and increases trust among collectors.
NFT and digital art allow artists to reach a wider audience and experiment with new forms of expression. It is important to realize that NFTs are not just digital images, but unique tokens that prove the authenticity and ownership of the artwork. This gives artists the ability to control the distribution of their work and be rewarded for its use. That is, digital platforms and NFTs allow artists to interact directly with audiences, bypassing traditional galleries and auction houses. This opens up new opportunities for the creation and sale of artworks.
Your art is laden with personal symbols and metaphors. Could you discuss the process of selecting these symbols, and perhaps share the story behind one or two of the most recurring symbols in your work? How do they enhance the dialogue you wish to create with your audience?
The process of choosing symbols begins with what I want to explore in my writing. Each symbol is not chosen at random, but rather with consideration of its layered meaning and ability to evoke an emotional response.
One important symbol is the cosmos. Space in my works symbolizes infinity and the unknown. The cosmic landscapes created with spray paint or the flecks of stars in my graphic artwork help me express ideas of infinite possibilities and the desire to learn new things.
These symbols not only enrich the visual language of my works, but also create a dialog with the audience. They invite the viewer to reflect on their own journeys and quests, on what it means to be human in this vast and complex world. I hope that my works will help viewers to find a response to their own experiences and inspire them to make new discoveries.
Looking towards the future, are there specific innovations or technologies you are eager to explore within your artwork? How do you anticipate these innovations will transform your creative process and the resultant art?
A person can display only one emotion on his face - fear, joy, sorrow, sympathy. But in the soul a person is multifaceted. All intertwined experiences, from love to hate, create the most important feeling in the depths of his soul. And its name is zero emotion.
My task is to show it. That's why I would like to use augmented reality technology in my works. A combination of both visual, sound and tactile feeling. In this way I would like to evoke a feeling in which a person experiences many intertwined experiences, from love to hate, creating the most important feeling that is in the depths of his soul
The very state when outwardly a person can express one emotion, but inside of him there is a complex process of interaction of different feelings
Much of your work serves as a commentary on contemporary societal issues. Can you discuss how you decide which issues to tackle in your art and the kind of impact you hope to achieve through this engagement?
I always strive for my works to reflect the actual problems of modern society. When selecting topics for my works, I focus on issues that I feel strongly about and that I feel need attention and discussion.
I often draw inspiration from news, personal observations and conversations with people. It is important that the topic is not only relevant, but also resonates with my own experiences and beliefs. This allows me to create work that is not only visually appealing, but also carries deep meaning.
My goal is to evoke an emotional response in viewers and encourage them to think about issues. I hope that my work can inspire people to make changes, whether in their personal lives or in society as a whole. Ideally, my artwork will start a dialog and help people see the world from a new perspective.
As an established artist who has received international recognition, what legacy do you hope to leave for future generations of artists? Are there specific messages or philosophies you aim to pass on through your mentorship or public speaking engagements?
As an artist, I hope to leave a legacy that will inspire and guide future generations of creators.
First, I want to emphasize the importance of experimentation and innovation. Art should always evolve, and I hope that my work will inspire others to experiment boldly with new techniques and technologies.
Secondly, I believe in the power of collaborations. By working together, artists can create more than they can alone. I hope that my projects in which I have collaborated with other creatives will set an example for future generations.
Finally, I want to convey the idea that art should be accessible to all. I strive to make my work understandable and relatable to people of different cultures and social backgrounds.
My hope is that these principles will help future artists create work that is not only beautiful, but meaningful and can make a difference in the world.