Orest Tataryn is a practicing artist / designer / curator who has developed a specific path in the direction of using light as his expressive medium. This occupation started in 1988 with a neon shop which became the foundation for the guerrilla art collective “Skunkworks / Outlaw Neon”. Most of his early mandate revolved around elevating the reputation of neon light work in the art/design community as well as being a resource for the execution of projects involving different forms of lighting. That adventure brought about the blending of two technical disciplines; neon lampworking and Venetian glass blowing.
From 1991 until 1999 the majority of endeavours were committed to the work of “Skunk-works / Outlaw Neon” of which Tataryn was a principle founder. The group morphed into the acronym “SWON” in 2000, which was a design house working out of Montreal. Orest Tataryn has resumed a solo studio practice since 2004.
Since Orest’s retirement in 2003 as a fire captain in the city of Toronto he continues to focus and expand the boundaries of his art. He has been influenced by the simplicity in the design of light sculpture by such pioneers in the movement as Dan Flavin, James Turrell, Michael Hayden, and Steven Antonakos, etc. The relationships between light, colour, and shadow are the constant and conscious challenges and inspiration in his work.
As a light sculptor he is interested in transformation - how light can transform space, create optical illusions, project afterimages, and alter perception. With light there is always a second factor and that is colour. Colour is very important both for it’s emotional resonance and for it’s dissonance - it sparks the curiosity. The relationships between light, colour, and shadow are the constant and conscious challenges and inspiration in the work.
His creations are informed by a diverse variety of professional careers and social interests. He has a limited amount of formal education in the arts but experience, collaboration and alliance have informed and guided the continued development of his studio practice.