In one of his songs, ‘Na ceste’ (meaning ‘on the way’), Cvacho formulates: ‘I am a pilgrim from the past era, driven by thirst and longing. Henceforward, with my belief, I am ascending the path to knowledge…’ This is how the artist describes himself, as he sees himself as a pilgrim and a seeker on his life’s journey. “I want to influence the reality of the contemporary world with my paintings. Instead of depression, gloom, negativity or violence and fear, I try to convey positive emotions, beauty and harmony through my work. It is an effort to improve the state of mind of today’s people, and it is also a return to the original purpose of art, which was to enrich people spiritually”, says Igor Cvacho.
Carrying the knowledge of the past within him, he asks relevant questions about the present, the human condition and the various emotional states. Cvacho is a poet, expressing himself not only through words and music, but also through the written and visual arts, capturing fantasy worlds on canvas and paper. Mythological themes merge with the real world, providing a glimpse into the depths of the soul. He switches effortlessly between figurative and abstract designs. He mostly uses expressive colours combined with dynamic shapes and elements. He works primarily with acrylics on canvas, occasionally incorporating elements of assemblage. He avoids gloomy and dark colour combinations that cause anxiety and stress and he creates shapes in his works, both abstract and figurative, that are harmonious and balanced. Cvacho rhythmically alternates between exact
geometric shapes and amorphous ones.
Another common theme is music, stemming from his experience as a musician and songwriter. There is a strong element of storytelling in his current paintings, where he combines epic content with lyrical speech, in both his abstract and more realistic works. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that words and music are inextricably linked to his paintings. ‘The content of my paintings is similar. I try to uncover spirituality through themes such as music, poetry, mythology and dream visions. As well as being a visual artist, I’m also a musician and I write my own poetic texts, so these topics are extremely close to me. In my work, fine art, music and lyrics actually combine into one harmonious whole…”, states the artist.
Looking at his oeuvre, one might be reminded of some of Georges Braque’s paintings. In his creative universe, Cvacho transcends the boundaries of painting.
Current exhibition:
March 12 – April 24, 2025
IGOR CVACHO – POEMS FROM BEYOND THE HORIZON
Rosenfeld Palace, Zilina, Slovakia
curated by Professor Dr. Jozef Leikert
Cvacho has already had over 60 solo exhibitions outside Slovakia, including:
Prague (2018), Rome (2018), Vienna (2017), Moscow (2017), Ottawa, Canada (2012), Shanghai (2010), Warsaw (2009), Helsinki (2007), Larnaca (2003), Brussels (2001).