In my youth I studied applied mathematics, computer science, German studies and visual arts. Yet, I happened to gain most of my experience outside of universities. Today I am active mainly as an actor, puppeteer, director, stage designer, visual artist, cultural politician, interpreter, theatre anthropologist and teacher.
1976
born in Kyiv (UA), formerly Soviet Union
1993
began studying applied mathematics at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute
1994
emigrated with my family to New York and researched various survival strategies
1995
began studying computer science at the City University of New York (CUNY). Developed a particular interest in languages and history
participated in several educational projects for children and adults
worked part-time as a private tutor
1998
started working as a software developer in New York
began evening studies in German language and literature at CUNY
began to take an intense interest in painting
2000
research trip to Grenada: on the trail of the failed revolution
2001
emigrated once again and stayed in Berlin for a year; conducted independent artistic and anthropological research
2002
moved to Leipzig and began studying visual arts at the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig (HGB)
2003
founded the illegal “MUSEUM For Its Own Sake” in Leipzig-Stötteritz, organized numerous exhibitions and actions
2006
met Andreas Weissgerber and became a regular guest in his workshop for artistic graphic printing in WERK-2 Leipzig
initiated the founding of the FIGURO Theatre
2004 - 2010
participated in several painting and graphic exhibitions in Germany and abroad
took private dance, theatre and puppetry lessons with Neville Tranter, Frank Soehnle, Anne-Kathrin Klatt, Andrea Killian, Tony Glaser and many more
led many courses with a focus on puppet construction and manipulation, in particular for the City of Leipzig, Werk-2 Kulturfabrik Leipzig, Lindenau-Museum Altenburg, LKJ Saxony, Saxonian Agency of Education, Youth- and Family Service of Rheine
2010
took over the FIGURO Theatre and transformed it into a professional one-man stage
2011
the first independent production of the one-man theatre FIGURO celebrates its premiere. Annual productions, collaborations and numerous tours in Germany and abroad followed
2013
began the civil and the theatre partnership with Aleš Vancl
moved to Hohenpriessnitz (Northern Saxony)
2014 - 2017
organized international cultural festivals in Hohenpriessnitz together with Aleš Vancl
involved in local refugee aid
2018
moved to Rosswein (Middle Saxony)
2019
co-founder of Freiraum e.V., chairman of the association. Management of international projects
organisation and management of the artistic research laboratory orthopter(r)a, funded by the Federal Fund for Performing Arts
2020 - 2023
deputy chairman of Taupunkt e.V. Chemnitz
cooperations with Theatre Continuo (CZ)
several Corona-safe live theatre projects, state and federal scholarships
2022
elected deputy chairman of UNIMA Deutschland
initiative and management of the German-Ukrainian network (e)merge (funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media)
lectureships at the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
begin of active participation in the Sigmund Freud reading group under the direction of Prof. Dr. Christoph Türcke
2023
first trip to South Africa. Anthropological-artistic research
teaching Material Theatre for students of DAMU (CZ)
masterclasses in Material Theatre in Kyiv (UA) for young professionals and students
start of the perennial theatre project series with local and refugee children in Quedlinburg, together with Anja Herbener
elected as UNIMA representative in the German Cultural Council
2024
Mentoring of the Antonin Artaud Fellowship (UA)
teaching Experimental Mask at the Accademia Teatro Dimitri (CH)
metapolitical anti-fascist actions in public space
2025
second research trip to South Africa
2016
“Paradise“: set design, concept, acting (director: Inda Buschmann)
“The stranger is only strange where he is strange”: acting, directing (Grassi Museum of Ethnology Leipzig)
2017
“With the flashlight to the end of the world”, acting, directing (Grassimuseum Leipzig)
“Masquerade“, concept, acting (Grassimuseum Leipzig)
“The Sock Eaters”, acting, directing
2019
“WAND|LUNG“, set design, concept, acting (director: Anne-Kathrin Klatt)
2020
“tadaa – Corona-safe mask theatre“, concept, acting
“1001 Nights“, set design, acting (director: Frank Soehnle)
2021
“The Factory of the Absolute“, directing (since 2023 acting)
“On your socks!“, play (director: Heda Bayer)
“Uroboros“, acting (Director: Aleš Vancl)
2022
“Stay @ Home Rapunzel“, set design, acting (director: Alexey Shcherbakov)
“Eros & Thanatos“, set design, concept, acting (director: Alexey Shcherbakov)
2024
“Beyond the Pleasure Principle”, set design, acting, directing
“mi ha-isch“, acting, directing
My projects and productions have been regularly funded by the Cultural Foundation of the State of Saxony, the Federal Fund for Performing Arts, the German-Czech Future Fund, the Cultural Fund for Erzgebirge and Middle Saxony and the cities of Rosswein, Döbeln and Chemnitz. I have been supported with scholarships from the Cultural Foundation of the State of Saxony and the Federal Fund for Performing Arts. The German-Ukrainian project (e)merge of UNIMA Germany, that I initiated and led, received funding from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
Further references:
Neues Schauspiel, Heinrich-Budde-Haus, Halle5 and Grassi Museum in Leipzig
Projekttheater, Schaubudensommer and Senckenberg Museum in Dresden
Off-Bühne Komplex, Kammermachen-Festival and Gunzenhauser Museum in Chemnitz
Czech-German Cultural Days in Dresden, Liberec, Děčín, Dolní Poustevna and Ústí nad Labem
Theatre festivals in Chemnitz, Dresden, Elbe-Elster-Land, Krefeld, Lüchow-Dannenberg, Northeim, Pirna, Radebeul, Wiesbaden…
Lectureships at: Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, DAMU Prague (CZ), Karpenko-Kary University Kyiv (UA), Accademia Teatro Dimitri Verscio (CH)
etc.