The Aesthetics of Collision by Robert Dmytruk
SITE #8: Don Wheaton YMCA
Robert Dmytruk
The Aesthetics of Collision
“ I am fascinated by the idea of entropy, how things fall apart, and the subsequent human impulse to reassemble those pieces into something meaningful.”
Through a physical negotiation between order and chaos, Robert Dmytruk transform hand-painted patterns into dense, three-dimensional reliefs that mirror the vibrant friction of contemporary life. The Aesthetics of Collision invites viewers to navigate these topographical layers, discovering how disparate shards coalesce into a singular momentum; as they engage with this reconstructed wreckage, they find a moment of stillness and visual rest within the collision, ultimately experiencing the profound beauty in the reassembly of entropy.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The Collision Series explores the impact of competing visual languages. This experimentation manifests as a physical negotiation between order and chaos, where I take hand-painted patterns—dots, stripes, and gestural marks—and deconstruct them. By cutting and layering these fragments into dense clusters, I create a ‘visual noise’ that eventually finds its own rhythm.
This rhythm is where the central tension of my work resides: the relationship between the fragment and the whole. I am fascinated by the idea of entropy, how things fall apart, and the subsequent human impulse to reassemble those pieces into something meaningful. These compositions are inspired by the sheer density of contemporary life: the overlapping data, the constant movement, and the vibrant friction of urban environments.
To ground this energy, I utilize solid circles as anchors. Representing “the still point of the turning
world” (T.S. Eliot), they provide a moment of visual rest against the high-velocity energy of the patterned shards. By using accessible materials like paper and paint to build complex, three-dimensional reliefs, I invite the viewer to consider how small, disparate elements can coalesce into a singular, powerful momentum.
Ultimately, my work is about the beauty found in the ‘collision.’ I invite the viewer to lean in, navigate the dense topographical layers, and find their own path through this vibrant, reconstructed wreckage.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Robert Dmytruk is a distinguished Western Canadian artist and mentor whose influence spans over four decades. An alumnus of the University of Alberta’s Fine Arts Education program, Dmytruk began his career in Edmonton in 1980. He made significant contributions to art education, serving as the Department Head of Art at Victoria School of the Arts and as an Art Curriculum Consultant for the Edmonton Public School District. His dedication earned him the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2006 and the Emily Carr School of Art and Design Award for Teaching in the Arts in 2007.
After a successful career in academia, Dmytruk transitioned to a full-time studio practice. His expressive, exploratory paintings quickly gained critical acclaim and were acquired by prestigious institutions, including the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Strathcona Permanent Collection. In 2015, his work was featured in the Manifest International Drawing Annual (INDA 9), a publication highlighting the world’s best contemporary drawing.
Since relocating to Summerland, British Columbia, in 2011, Dmytruk has continued to push the boundaries of his artistic expression. His recent work reflects a notable evolution, seamlessly integrating his expertise in painting with a burgeoning passion for sculpture. He currently focuses on innovative assemblages crafted from plexiglass, wood, gatorboard, synthetic resin and vibrant paint with intricate layering. These multi-dimensional pieces have been featured in recent solo exhibitions such as “Enigma” (Penticton Art Gallery, 2023) and “Inherent Boundlessness” (Headbones Gallery, 2024). Dmytruk remains committed to continuous reinvention, constantly exploring the intersections of form, pattern, and color from his home base in the Okanagan Valley.
Instagram: @dmytrukrobert
Website: robertdmytruk.com