Sam Tkatchenko has been exploring the never ending limits of stencils and free hand graffiti since his humble beginnings of destroying his home town over 6 years ago. Tkatchenko's stencil art has evolved since then and has moved from the streets to canvas. His stencils are intricate multi-layered works which often range from three to eight layers. There is no real size limit with his stencils also. They can range from small works that are a third of the size of a A4 piece of paper to large works over a meter long. Tkatchenko's stencils focus highly around two very different subjects. The first being focus around Tkatchenko's life which mainly consist of fun candid photos of his friends enjoying a moment in their lives. Each one of these stencils hold an individual meaning to Tkatchenko weather they are a representation of that persons personality or just a memory Tkatchenko has had with them.
The second subject the Tkatchenko's stencils focuses around has more of a history behind it. This subject is the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that happened in the Ukraine in 1986. Tkatchenko's stencils focuses around the after math of this disaster with his images being of long abandoned buildings, houses and just anything that shows the absence of man. These works explore the emptiness of both Chernobyl and Prypiat and how most of the world has forgotten about them. They show how easily nature can re-adapt and take over once the human presence is gone.
Although Tkatchenko has moved from the streets and into the studio he still keeps a presence their with his continual free hand graffiti works. These works consist of large and colourful characters and graffiti pieces that Tkatchenko is forever striving to evolve his technique and style.
Ant, 2011
Spray Paint & Ink on Ply
Tongue Action, 2011
Spray Paint & Ink on Ply
Loving the Sun, 2010
Spray Paint on Canvas
Untitled (Surie striped u & i), 2011
Spray Paint on Cement Sheeting
