Kyiv-based Georgiy Potopalskiy is the creative vision and driving force behind Ujif_notfound — a multimedia systems project exploring the algorithms of the kinetic relationship between man and program. A consummate artist whose creative portfolio spans electronic music, media art, and visual arts, Potopalskiy/Ujif_notfound is widely known in his native Ukraine. He has exhibited works at the invitation of major Ukrainian institutions, including the National Art Museum of Ukraine, Mystetskyi Arsenal, and CSM/Foundation Center for Contemporary Art.
In 2025, he released his latest album, Postulate which was reviewed by Dusted Magazine. In his review of the album, Evan Mitchell Schares describes the release as “a living, musical history documenting the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.” Here, in this Listed, Potopalskiy/Ujif_notfound shares with us a list of things that influenced him.
Pirated VHS Tapes
The first thing that truly struck me in childhood was the sound of pirated VHS tapes. In the 1990s, we watched films with underground voiceovers — a single guy, sitting in his room, layering his voice over the original soundtrack. And there was this strange sonic effect: when the dialogue in the movie went quiet, the room noise around the voice actor would rise, growing louder and louder until it drowned out the film itself.
That noise was oddly multidimensional — the mechanical hum of the VCR adding its own distortions — a strange, raw texture unlike anything else I’d ever heard. And then, the moment someone spoke in the film and the voice actor jumped back in, that noise would cut off abruptly, like being doused with a sudden splash of cold water. A jarring return to reality — or maybe an escape from it.
Twin Peaks
I believe that people of my generation are divided into two groups: those who watched Twin Peaks and… the “normal” ones. And those who saw it as kids had their consciousness changed forever.
I was seven. The Soviet Union had just collapsed, and finally, something other than the dull, party-approved lies started appearing on TV. And then *this* appeared. Every week, our whole family would gather around the screen: Laura’s body, the floor painted with zigzags, the red curtains, the woman with the log, and Bob rising from behind the chair.
Who was I after that?
Radiohead — “Climbing Up the Walls”
Returning to history with the voice on VHS, I felt a similar emotion listening to Radiohead’s Climbing Up the Walls. There’s that moment when the distortion on the voice slowly fades, and it suddenly feels like the voice is right next to you—whispering into your ear. Try to find this moment. It’s chilling, as if you’re being pulled from something otherworldly back into reality.
And overall, I still think this track is one of their most brilliantly crafted pieces—one of my favorites to this day.
Hermann Hesse — The Glass Bead Game
The Glass Bead Game left a profound impression on me when I was 18. I’m pretty sure I interpreted the novel differently from what the author intended. For me, it was a kind of game that tied everything together — the entire history of humanity — and at the same time, a subtle mockery of how we perceive human happiness. This resonated deeply within me when I started experimenting with patches in Max / MSP. Many of my projects are rooted in the interpretation and fusion of things that might seem incompatible at first glance. It’s a game I’ve been playing for many years.
Korn — “My Gift to You”
This still has the most genius guitar riff, vocals, and drums for me. It is one of their most avant-garde experiments, blurring the line between metal, industrial, and sound design. Built around an almost one-note minimal riff, the track creates a hypnotic, oppressive atmosphere where texture and dynamics matter more than melody. Its layers of noise, mechanical rhythms, and warped vocal effects feel closer to industrial music or dark electronic music.
Pan Sonic — Vakio
Back then, I discovered the world of minimalism and artifactual sound. Listening to this album, I was convinced the world was a matrix — long before the movie came out or I’d read any of the books.
UbuWeb
Since discovering UbuWeb, I’ve immersed myself in a world that changed me and shaped the person I am today. Of course, I was already familiar with many of the artists in the archive, but the moment I discovered UbuWeb marked the beginning of a more systematic exploration and study. Robert Ashley, Mauricio Kagel, John Cage, Ligeti, Nono, Pärt, Xenakis, Stockhausen, Riley…and many many more.
Valerian Pidmohylnyi — Misto (The City)
The novel Misto (The City) by Valerian Pidmohylnyi became significant for me because it revealed the beauty of the Ukrainian language and Kyiv, while telling the tragic story of the destruction of Ukrainian culture by Soviet rule. But no — not by the government itself, rather by the people enforcing it. Because it’s not the authorities that wage wars, commit genocide, and destroy cities, killing civilians — it is people who do these things.
Detali Zvuku Festival
The Detali Zvuku festival was an international festival for experimental electronic music held in Kiev. In the early 2000s, it left the brightest mark on me and set the course for my future path. I dreamed that one day I’d take part in it as an artist. And I did — but by then, it was already a different festival.
Autechre — plyPhon
I guess I can’t avoid mentioning Autechre, as this duo has been with me for more than 25 years and is deeply tied to my fascination with audiovisual art and algorithms. For me, Autechre is inseparably linked to Max / MSP, which has become my main tool for creating music, visuals, and installations. They are a perfect example of how a cold, mathematical, algorithmic electronic language can gain emotion and dramaturgy, transforming into something truly alive — into real music.
