The sculpture series “The Joy of Being Human”, created by Ukrainian artist Ihor Tkatšivskõi, was opened at Stockholm Square in Narva on 7 September 2025. The work was created as part of the 2025 edition of NAIR, Narva’s public space installation residency programme.Artist Ihor Tkachivsky describes his work as follows:
“This series of sculptures is dedicated to the five human senses, through which the perception of the world and connection with the surrounding environment are revealed.
SIGHT. The first sculpture depicts an eye. Sight allows a person to see loved ones and children, admire colorful landscapes, the vastness of the sea, and the majesty of mountains, discovering inspiration through beauty.
HEARING. The second sculpture represents an ear. Hearing gives the ability to communicate and be part of society, to enjoy music, the rhythms of nature, and the laughter of children.
SMELL. The third sculpture symbolizes the nose. Through smell, a person perceives the aroma of morning coffee, the refinement of perfumes, the freshness of the sea breeze, and the scents accompanying different moments of life.
TOUCH. The fourth sculpture is devoted to touch. It conveys the warmth of the hands of loved ones, the gesture of a handshake, and the richness of tactile experiences: the roughness of stone, the cold of metal, the softness of wood.
TASTE. The fifth sculpture depicts lips. Taste opens to a person the joy of food and water – simple yet essential sources of life and pleasure.
The final work in the series is a fingerprint sculpture, symbolizing individuality and uniqueness. Just as no two fingerprints are alike, no two destinies are the same. This image reminds us of the personal mark each person leaves on the world.”
About the author and the creative process
A multidisciplinary artist, Tkachivskyi works across sculpture, graphics, and painting. He creates both easel and monumental works, using materials as diverse as bronze, wood, stone, metal, snow, and ice.
“I am a Ukrainian sculptor exploring eternal themes: human nature, relationships, and the evolution of forms, both organic and inanimate. In my work, I combine the archaic and the avant-garde, striving to convey deep emotions and unadulterated feelings. I don’t just create beautiful objects; it’s important for me to elicit a reaction from the viewer, to share my personal vision of the world. Each of my sculptures is a dialogue for me: an exploration of material boundaries, a play of textures, forms and colours, an invitation into the world of inner experiences and sensations.”
Over the years, Tkachivsky has participated in more than 80 international symposiums, exhibitions, residencies, and sculpture competitions. His sculptures can be found in private collections spanning the globe, from Argentina to South Korea. His practice embraces a wide range of materials, including bronze, wood, stone, ice, and snow.
In the summer of 2025, Tkachivsky worked in Narva, where he created a new sculptural composition entitled ‘The Joy of Being Human.’ The work explores the five senses, highlighting that the human body is one of our most valuable assets. Created from welded metal plates, the work symbolises how we perceive the world. The welding work took about a month. Special steel was chosen as the material, which over time will become covered with a noble colour of corrosion, forming an expressive texture while retaining its strength. The sculptures were designed to serve as a platform for poster exhibitions in the future.
While creating the series of sculptures, Ihor also held a master class: anyone who wanted to could try their hand at welding and take home a small souvenir made with their own hands.
About the NAIR project
This project is part of NAIR, a residency program that creates installations in public spaces in Narva. The Narva Art Residency is organizing NAIR for the second year in collaboration with the Narva City Architecture and Urban Planning Department (ALPA). Now in its second year, the initiative brings contemporary art into public spaces and promotes dialogue between artists and local communities. In 2024, Lithuanian architect Augustas Lapinskas inaugurated the initiative with Tuhast, an installation warmly received by Narva’s residents.
The competition jury consisted of experts in architecture, urban planning, and art: Johanna Rannula (head of the Narva Art Residency), Peeter Tambu (chief architect of Narva), Kaie Enno (head of the department of architecture and urban planning of Narva), Raivo Kotov (architect at KOKO Architects), Ann Kristiin Entson (tactical urbanism expert at the Tallinn Spatial Design Department), Ra Martin Puhkan (architect at Stuudio Täna), and Kirke Kangro (dean of the faculty of fine arts at the Estonian Academy of Arts). After several stages of discussions, and evaluations, the jury collectively made a thoughtful and shared selection of the winner. The selection process also involved Narva’s active residents, including young activists, art teachers and art scholars.
The project is supported by the City of Narva, the Estonian Ministry of Culture, and the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.
