Alexia Wright: Kitel, your work has been described as deeply humane despite the absence of human figures. How do you infuse a sense of humanity and evoke emotions within your generative landscapes?
Kitel: It's quite a challenging question. Both of my generative projects can equally evoke emotions, but the first, Fields of the Abandoned Homeland, was a very personal project with a somewhat depressing story. It was hard to describe as I approached the final stage before sharing it on fx(hash). That project was truly personal, and I can't tell whose emotions were more active, mine or the viewers'. On the other hand, Lines of Memories is a more universal project. I wanted it to be for everyone. Unlike the first one, which was about me, this project can resonate with people without them associating it with the war situation in my country, Ukraine. It's like memories of better times, something that can connect with anyone.
AW: What motivated you to share Fields of the Abandoned Homeland, a deeply personal project, with the world?
K: When I began this project, I had no idea how it would eventually turn out. I started experimenting in late 2021, before the war. The first lines of code were written around December 2021. At that time, I simply wanted to create something without knowing it would become a landscape or involve wheat fields. If I were to share the initial stages of this project, you would never think they were part of the same project when compared to the final result. The decision to focus on landscapes and wheat fields came to me when I had to leave my home with my family and relocate to the central part of Ukraine, far from the front lines. During my relocations, which lasted for about four months, I observed endless wheat fields while traveling by bus or train between big cities, small cities, and villages. This experience inspired the idea for the landscape theme.
Fields of the Abandoned Homeland #96 | Kitel87 | 2023
AW: How did your artistic vision for this project change or evolve over time, considering it was conceived before the war in Ukraine began?
K: The initial idea for this project was completely different from what it eventually became. When I decided to focus on a wheatfield with various backgrounds commonly seen in Ukraine, such as power lines, towns, cities, and factories, it all came together effortlessly in my mind. Traveling extensively before the war outside of my city, Kharkiv, and visiting interesting places with my hobby as a detectorist, allowed me to visualize what this project would look like.
Fields of the Abandoned Homeland #91 | Kitel87 | 2023
AW: Fields of the Abandoned Homeland is meant to depict a peaceful and safe place. How did you achieve a sense of tranquility, peace during times of conflict in your country?
K: Fundamentally, I will never depict my country in art during times of war. I know other Ukrainian artists are doing this but I refuse to. I have seen war with my own eyes, especially during the first two weeks after it started. It may not be appropriate to compare it to hell, as the real hell is now on the front lines. We had to move to my wife parents’ apartment for safety reasons, as our previous home stood on the edge of the city, close to the Russian border, making it extremely dangerous. While smoking a cigarette on the balcony, I saw how Russian Multiple Rocket Launching System struck a neighborhood about 500 meters away from us, causing destruction to people's homes and apartments.
My family and I have had to flee to the basement with our neighbours to seek refuge from potential bombings and artillery strikes. There are times when you feel so tired about this whole situation, and all you want to have is a plate of warm food and a normal bed to sleep in. So we have gone back home to be able to do this.
These experiences, witnessing the war and its effects, have only strengthened my resolve to focus my art on depicting peaceful and safe places, steering clear from representing Ukraine in war.
AW: The dedication of this project to those who had to leave their homes against their will holds immense power. Could you expand on the importance of this dedication and how it is reflected in the themes and emotions woven into your artwork?
K: For now, I believe this dedication to depict my homeland as a peaceful place applies only to my first project. I don't think I will continue this theme in my upcoming projects, though I might be mistaken. At the moment, I have an idea:
I want people to appreciate my art not just because of the flag on my Twitter account.
With my first project, I was introducing myself, and I agree that it carries a lot of emotions, as it is quite personal and emotionally powerful. The next generative project might also hold emotional significance, as it revolves around memories that fade away with time. However, I don't think my subsequent projects will evoke the same type of emotions.
I do not want to look like a beggar who wants to be known because there is war in Ukraine. There are many people who live in much worse situations than I do, so I sometimes feel it is not right for me to bring this up.
AW: How has the experience of war and displacement affected your life and that of your loved ones?
K: The experience of war and displacement has left a profound impact on me and my loved ones, with various emotional fluctuations over time. There have been periods lasting about two months when I have felt in a great mood, followed by another couple of months marked by deep depression. The constant changes in emotional states have been challenging to navigate.
One of the main struggles I face is the strong desire to return home, to the place where I truly belong.
However, due to the ongoing safety concerns, it remains impossible for me and my family to go back at the moment. Although we currently reside in Kyiv, which offers relative safety, it cannot compare to the sense of home and belonging we had before the displacement.
AW: How do you find stability and comfort during these challenging times?
K: There is no stability. When you're trying to imagine stability, something usually happens. Maybe I sound a bit depressed at the moment, but it's really like when you think that everything is okay, something happens that's not okay. We cannot talk about stability. We just take the situation as it is and continue living, creating, and nurturing children. Maybe I'm expressing the thoughts of every Ukrainian at the moment. We're just waiting. We're just waiting for the war to end.
AW: What does a day currently look like for you?
K: I have a main job as a network engineer. On good days, it looks like a normal day as every person has in a normal country without any conflicts or wars. But these days are mixed with moments when alarms ring in the middle of the day, and you realize Russian bombers are approaching the Ukrainian borders, ready to launch rockets.
You don't know where these rockets will hit – it could be Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkiv, or any part of Ukraine. You never know, and you have nothing to do but wait nervously for two or three hours. One of the problems is that where I live, there are no shelters, so I have to find a basement or underground parking lot to hide during such attacks.
It's very tiring, and I reach a point where I just want to stay home and wait for everything to pass. There are normal days too, with great weather, spending time with my family, going to the park, the river, the lake, or even visiting McDonald's. But you always have the fear or knowledge that things can change very quickly at any moment, and that's just very annoying.
Another significant problem, maybe a result of issues with my mental health, is that:
I dream to start dreaming again.
I can't plan anything. I can't plan to purchase something because there is no need. I can't plan to buy a new car, for example, because I don't need one. For what? I don't know where I am going to be in the next two weeks, or next month. I can't plan a vacation with my family because I don't know what the situation is going to be like in three days from now. And I miss that feeling very much. I just want to start planning and dreaming again.
AW: Your project, Lines of Memories, released in 2023, explores the concept of treasured places left behind, evoking feelings of longing for home and preserving fading memories through generative art. How has the passage of time and being away from home for almost a year and a half affected your memories of the places you hold dear?
K: It's really something that scares me. You know why? Because my wife's parents went to Kharkiv, to our home, only for two days, to see how the situation is and to take some necessary things for us, like clothes and other stuff. We also asked them to take some photos. Even though it's not my own home because we rent it, there are many personal things of ours there. When I looked at the pictures, I could see that almost everything is okay, except for the blown-out windows after the explosions. These have now been fixed by volunteers with wooden plates.
But what really scared me was when I saw those photos of the inside of my apartment, I could not remember some places, some small things that were on the bookshelves or tables. I don't remember how some parts of the flat looked like before we left it. And this really terrifies me.
The passage of time and being away for almost a year and a half has affected my memories of the places I hold dear, and it's unsettling to see how some details are fading away.
Lines of Memories #0 - Building in Ukraine | 2023 | 📸 Courtesy of the Artist
AW: Why do you think you have forgotten?
K: Remembering is important but not at the expense of living life and focusing on the present moment. I have a three-year-old daughter who goes to kindergarten here in Kyiv. Seeing her reminds me that life goes one and that I have to continue living.
In Kyiv, we have started to forget everything that was in Kharkiv city. That has been unexpected. When I saw the photos, I didn't recognize some elements of the place I once called home.
Drone Image of Northern Saltivka - Kitel’s Home District | Kharkiv, 2022 | 📸СтройОбзор
AW: Can you elaborate on how you represented the gradual fading of memories through this generative art project?
K: I represented this process using simple shapes and wavy lines. If you zoom in on the project, you'll notice that everything is made of hand-drawn-like lines, and interestingly, there are no curved lines – only straight lines throughout the entire project.
I maintained a connection with my first project, Fields of the Abandoned Homeland, by using the same color schemes, but there are notable differences. In Fields of the Abandoned Homeland, you can see intricate details, even when zooming in on pictures with a high aspect ratio. You can spot bricks in building walls and details in factory pipes. However, in Lines of Memories, there are no such details, and everything feels reminiscent of photos taken with early digital cameras, where the resolution was very low, like 0.2 megapixels or so.
The intention was to create landscapes with wavy shapes that appear less detailed, contributing to a sense of vagueness and gradual fading in the overall artwork.
Lines of Memories #10 | Kitel87 | 2023
AW: As you reflect on the memories that you preserve through your artwork; how do you hope others will connect with and interpret the emotions you have portrayed in your work?
K: Lines of Memories is a project intended for everyone. Through it, I have sought to capture and convey the emotions linked to the place where I used to live and the memories associated with it. My hope is that when others engage with my artwork, they will also connect with and interpret their own emotions in response to the themes I have presented.
Just like I have treasured memories of my hometown, I believe that everyone has their own special places that evoke powerful emotions. It could be a simple location, like a zoo in their city, or any other place they hold dear.
My hope is that my artwork resonates with others and encourages them to revisit their cherished memories or find meaning in the emotions I've portrayed.
While I can only represent my personal experiences, I aim to create artwork that speaks to universal feelings of nostalgia, longing, and the preservation of fading memories. It is my desire that viewers find a sense of connection and reflection in my work, reminding them of the treasured places they hold in their hearts.
AW: You have expressed how the sight of a passenger plane soaring in the sky represents a symbol of peace and freedom in your artwork. I'm curious to know, on a deeper and more personal level, what is it about airplanes that holds such a special significance for you? Can you share the story or memories behind why this particular imagery represents freedom and peace in your life?
K: It's deeply personal. I can't recall the sight of a civil plane, like a Boeing or Airbus, leaving those white smoke stripes in the air, soaring at 12,000 meters above. Instead, the sky is filled with military helicopters. The day airplanes fly again will be a happy one, and I, and all of Ukraine will celebrate by having a beer (laughs).
Lines of Memories #13 | Kitel87 | 2023
AW: In your generative art, you have highlighted the significance of using simple algorithms to create striking visuals. How do you maintain a simple approach while still conveying emotional depth within your creations?
K: I don't even think about it because you can take everything and understand that it can be divided into simple parts. When creating my project, I wasn't thinking about whether it would be complicated or simple. I just tried to understand what elements I needed to use to make a certain part of the project. I imagined how to divide the complex elements into many simple ones.
For example, take a look at my wheat stem when you zoom in. It's so simple, made of two Bezier curves, some ellipses imitating seeds, and lines imitating leaves – that's all. But when you add diversity and a large number of these elements, you see a big field where each stem is unique, yet everything is made of simple elements.
I decided to create a simple project because I was starting out. It was my first project and while I was creating it, I was also learning.
Fields of the Abandoned Homeland #92 | Kitel87 | 2023
AW: You have incorporated AI into your creative process. How do you strike a balance between using the technology as a tool and maintaining your own artistic vision?
K: I have two projects, one on Foundation, and the second on Objkt. It was some kind of experiment inspired by Alejandro (@acamposuribe), who did similar collaborations with generative art and AI. His work intrigued me, so I decided to create something using my outputs from Fields of the Abandoned Homeland on both platforms. In this process, I let AI play a part, but I didn't want it to be the main force in creating the composition. Some outputs were far from the original image, so I used prompts in the journal to refine the landscape and achieve a more realistic result.
After Harvest | Kitel87 | 2023
AW: Can you describe the emotions or message that you aim to evoke through your artwork and what impact or response you hope to elicit from viewers when they engage with your art?
K: I can say that all my projects are aimed at evoking similar emotions. My first project, Fields of the Abandoned Homeland, was deeply personal and held a hint of sadness due to the situation. I want to let people know that I am Kitel and that this is my story.
As for the small collection on Foundation, the emotions may be similar to the first, but I didn't want to emphasize them too much. This project was more of an experiment, particularly with the integration of AI, which I can differentiate from the 'Lines of Memories' project.
In Lines of Memories, my goal was to evoke emotions of nostalgia, but in a way that resonates with each person individually. I believe everyone has a place they long to revisit – it could be their grandma's house in a village, the place where they grew up with friends, or another city they had to leave due to their family's circumstances. These places hold memories and sentiments, and as adults, we may want to visit these places again to see how things are. So, Lines of Memories seeks to tap into these emotions of nostalgia.
Lines of Memories #9 | Kitel87 | 2023
AW: What aspects of your upbringing and early life in Ukraine do you think played a role in shaping your perspective on art and creativity?
Since childhood I have been close to art in general. I liked to draw from a young age and I did it every time I could. I started by drawing on the walls when I was around three years old.
I continued drawing in university. One side of my notebooks had formal notes from my lectures and the other side had my drawings. So, when I was bored during lectures, I just sat, listening to the professor and drawing. I was not studying art in university. It was a technical direction but I liked to draw and have done it since I can remember.
AW: What kinds of things do you remember drawing when you were little?
K: I drew mostly landscapes. I can now say that I have always been a landscape artist.
AW: Do you recall why you enjoyed drawing landscapes from such a young age?
K: As a boy, of course, I liked to draw various machines like trucks, tanks, tractors, and planes. But after drawing a machine, I then added elements of the landscape - a road, trees, grass, clouds, and the sun - to make it complete.
There was a sense of satisfaction when finishing a drawing, thinking, "Okay, I like it. Let's start another."
It made whatever I created feel complete.
AW: As an emerging artist, what has your experience been establishing your presence within the web3 community?
K: Several months before I started my first project, I decided to learn about the NFT market and immerse myself in generative art, focusing on enhancing my Twitter account. I started to follow different artists and collectors with similar tastes, and in January 2022, I spontaneously reached out to Jacek Markusiewicz (@jMarkusiewicz). Since then, we've become good friends, even though we've never met in person due to the war that started shortly after. Jacek has been incredibly helpful with advice and support, especially during the difficult times when the war began. He's the only one from my Twitter followers who reached out to ask about my well-being and that of my family when the war started. I'm truly grateful for his assistance and the knowledge I've gained from him about artists and collectors in the community—it was the start of it all.
AW: You mentioned that you enjoy metal detecting. Could you share what you're searching for, and perhaps tell me about some exciting or memorable discoveries you've made during your metal detecting adventures?
K: First of all, I need to mention that metal detecting is legal in Ukraine, as long as you are not on private property (laughs). I usually explore fields that are not privately owned, and if they are empty or not historically significant, I'm free to use my metal detector without any issues.
It's quite similar to fishing in some ways, as you never know what you'll find beneath the metal detecting coil. While I haven't discovered any treasures per se, the process itself is fascinating. I'm particularly drawn to the history behind it all, and for me, metal detecting is a relaxing and enjoyable activity.
I often visit abandoned villages that date back to the Second World War or even earlier, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. These places hold a certain allure for me, and I find it captivating to uncover relics and artifacts from the past. It's like a journey through time, connecting with history on a personal level.
Overall, metal detecting is not only a hobby but also a way to immerse myself in the past and gain a deeper appreciation for the rich history of Ukraine. I thoroughly enjoy the experience, and it's something I would prefer to a week of relaxing at a hotel near the sea.
AW: Are there specific items that you hope to discover?
K: Among the main things that metal detectorists like me hope to find are coins, and for me, it's no exception. I'm particularly drawn to silver and copper coins from the 19th and early 20th centuries, and I've been fortunate to come across many of them during my metal detecting adventures in Ukraine. Some of these coins even date back to the 17th century and earlier, providing a glimpse into the rich history of the region.
One of the most exciting discoveries I made was a Silver Denarius from the Roman Empire, which I believe dates back to the year 143. It's fascinating to find such ancient coins here in Ukraine because, during that time, the tribes residing here engaged in trade with the Roman Empire, exchanging silver for various goods, including skins.
While I haven't come across any gold coins yet, my ultimate dream as a detectorist and collector is to find a Roman coin called Aureus, which is made of gold. These coins are highly coveted by detectorists, collectors, and numismatists all over Europe. Although they are rare and challenging to find, there have been instances of them being discovered in Ukraine as well. I remain hopeful that one day I'll be lucky enough to add an Aureus coin to my collection.
Silver Denarius | Kitel87’s Private Collection | 📸 Courtesy of the Artist
AW: Are there other items you enjoy collecting?
K: Aside from coins, I also find enjoyment in collecting various other historical items. For instance, I have an assortment of bronze and copper crosses that people used to wear in the past. These items are typically more than a century old and hold great historical value. One intriguing find I made was a pair of copper buttons covered with gold, dating back to the late 19th century. One button belonged to a government representative from the city of Poltava in Eastern Ukraine, and remarkably, just a meter away, I stumbled upon another button from the Kharkov Gubernia. I like to joke with my friends that these buttons might have been from two government officials who had a disagreement and pulled off each other's golden buttons during a heated argument. It adds an element of intrigue to my collection.
When it comes to other things, I am currently not a big collector. However, as I told you earlier, I hope to be able to start dreaming again. When the situation here in Ukraine is stable, and I can call a place home - with my walls, my room, in my home - without having to constantly move to different places, I want to purchase art. I want to collect works by Zancan (@zancan) and Jacek Markusiewicz (@jMarkusiewicz). Zancan's style is quite consistent across most of his projects, with a similar look and feel. It may have evolved a bit from project to project, but it maintains a recognizable consistency. On the other hand, Jacek's works are quite diverse and I particularly admire his piece titled 'Reborn.' This work stands out to me the most, not just for its uniqueness but also because it played a significant role in the beginning of our friendship.
I remember being late to purchase 'Reborn' when it was listed on a fx(hash). Nonetheless, I decided to write to Jacek to express my appreciation for the artwork because I genuinely liked it. The project reminded me of old 19th-century maps with castles and walled cities. Emotionally, it felt very close to me, and that letter I wrote to him marked the start of our friendship. From that point on, our connection led to something truly wonderful.
Various Metal Artifacts | Kitel87’s Private Collection | 📸Courtesy of the Artist
AW: During our conversation you have mentioned a few times that you dream to be able to dream again. Given the opportunity to do so right now, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
K: First, I have some goals to work towards like securing a place to live and getting a car to replace the one that burned in Kharkiv due to the bombings. These are not dreams but rather things I need to save up for to be able to afford them in the future. My true dream is to rectify a past mistake. I regret not having visited Europe before, so I yearn to go there. Perhaps, in the future, I might also consider venturing to places like Canada and the U.S. and attending NFT shows like the one that was held in New York. But for now, visiting Europe with my family is my dream, and I envision it to be an extensive and unforgettable adventure.
Kitel (@Kitel87) is a generative artist originally from Kharkiv, now based in Kyiv. He utilizes simple algorithms to create visuals that convey emotional depth and evoke a sense of nostalgia. Through images of tower blocks, wheat fields, and electrical pylons, he captures the essence of Ukraine as a harmonious and tranquil place, offering a powerful vision of his homeland at peace.
Alexia Wright (@PepaDot) is the Head of Social Media and Marketing at Tribul, combining her passion for art with her expertise in content creation, community management, and stakeholder relations. Alexia holds a Master of Arts degree and has extensive leadership experience. She enjoys keeping her pulse on the latest art news and trends in web3.