BIO

Born in Kharkiv in 1993, Mykyta Filonenko completed his education at the Kharkiv Art School in 2012. In 2016, he earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Kharkiv Academy of Design and Fine Arts, specializing in Monumental Painting. His began his journey into game development in 2014 during his studies. From 2014 to 2017, Filonenko experimented with contemporary political themes in Ukraine, particularly post the Maydan revolution in 2014. His latest project is an interactive horror game centered around the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Projects created during the residency period

Artist’s account: During the residency I worked on ‘SeaUnderTheSeaUnderTheSea’, an indie game on climate change, which is an ever-pressing issue that continues to devastate our planet. Its destructive impact cannot be ignored, and our future seems bleak and uncertain.

In this project, I aim to delve into the gloomy prospects of humanity driven by the ravages of climate change. I intend to create an interactive game where players take on the role of a submarine pilot in a distant and dystopian future. This futuristic setting envisions the year 2085, a time when Earth has transformed drastically from what we know today. Most of the planet’s once fertile soil has been submerged in rising waters, forcing humanity to seek refuge in the elevated peaks of mountains that now resemble islands amidst the vast ocean. In this dystopian future, many climate wars are fought, and the ocean floor is full of leftovers from the conflicts: mines, tanks, and ships are all there at the bottom in deep, dark waters.

The game will be an immersive experience in a low-poly retro art style, harkening back to the early 2000s gaming era. This choice of aesthetics not only pays homage to that period but also serves as a stark contrast to the desolation of the game’s narrative. By referencing the early 2000s, I aim to evoke a sense of nostalgia, reminding players of a time when joy and simplicity were more accessible, in sharp contrast to the grim future I am depicting.

Players will find themselves navigating their submarine through treacherous waters, facing the eerie and unsettling remnants of past battles. They will be tasked with exploring the depths, recovering resources and uncovering the secrets of this submerged world. The game’s narrative will also touch upon the resilience and adaptability of humanity as they cling to survival in a world transformed by environmental catastrophes.

Watch a video-teaser for the game here.

This programme is organised by Perpetuum Mobile (PM) as part of the Artists at Risk (AR)-Network in partnership with UNESCO and with the support of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and Teiger Foundation.