Veteran Valentin Oleksienko, who lost sensation and movement from the chest down due to a spinal cord injury, creates unique works of art using the wheels of his wheelchair. The creative process, which previously seemed impossible, is now attracting the attention of both the art community and the media, who are inviting the artist to talk about his work.
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Valentin, 28, a tank driver with the 3rd Separate Iron Brigade, was injured while serving on the front lines. After an accident in which he hit his head on the bottom of a pond, he found himself confined to a wheelchair. Creativity became a new form of self-expression for him during his rehabilitation in Lviv. The idea of painting with wheels came to him when he saw his wife working in the creative workshop at the UNBROKEN centre.
The support of artist Zirka Savka helped Valentin bring this unusual technique to life. His paintings, created with paint on wheels, have become a symbol of strength of spirit and belief in one’s own abilities. The veteran plans to exhibit his works in galleries and donate part of the proceeds from sales to charity.
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