Equal parts visionary, environmentalist, engineer and artist, Viktor Genel defies traditional labels. Rather, his work and philosophy are meant to turn art on its head.
Just as the 20th century artist Marcel Duchamp did with his “readymade” works, such as his “Bicycle Wheel,” an upside-down wheel on a wooden stool, Genel is defying convention with his MeconoMorph art installations, created using discarded business cards.
“The ‘Bicycle Wheel’ had a profound impact on me. The idea that an object becomes meaningful when separated from its function is the foundation of my work,” says Genel.
Genel describes himself as a deconstructionist, explaining that discarded and outdated business cards are ideal for his creations. From an environmental perspective he is repurposing business cards that would otherwise add to landfills.
His jocular personality comes to the forefront when he defines who and what he is.
“What am I? This comes from the human need to put labels on everything,” says Genel.
“If the public recognizes me as an artist, it is a straightforward interaction. If I’m recognized as an engineer, people can sleep well at night. But that’s irrelevant to me. What matters is what I do. You can call me whatever you like.”
Born and raised in Russia, Genel is fluent in Russian and English. He grew up with a fascination for how things work and was intrigued by what made things tick. As a youngster he spent a lot of time building things from anything he could find, pushing the limits of materials and space.
“From an early age, I seemed to have a strong sense of three-dimensional form,” he says. “I remember drawing a perspective sketch when I was just 6 and showing it to my mother, who was a professional designer. She brought it to her supervisor at work, and he couldn’t believe a 6-year-old had drawn it.”
The creative gene, Genel says, has its lineage with consecutive generations and is overall a family affair. In addition to himself, that includes his mother, his wife Elena, his daughter Sonya, and her two children.
“Elena is a constant source of support in moments of triumph and during low points. She has revealed a natural gift for watercolor through a course at VBAC [Vero Beach Art Club] and has an online exhibit on the VBAC marketplace. And Sonya is a trained oil painter, who these days shares her creativity with her two daughters, ages 2 and 4, who are becoming little stars themselves.”
In addition to his family, Genel’s longtime companion, Bono, a poodle, assists silently, sometimes playfully, witnessing the creative process.
“He’s been by my side through countless trials, exhibition preps and road trips to installations across the country. Bono was a puppy when MeconoMorph was first conceived and is still actively supervising the next exhibition,” Genel says.
Genel has a formal background in engineering, an informal but lifelong obsession with geometry, and a degree in the arts. He earned a Master of Engineering from the Leningrad Institute of Technology and later received a diploma from the Leningrad Academy of Arts.
He comments that his influences include Buckminster Fuller, creator of the geodesic dome; Theo Jansen, a Dutch artist who makes wind-propelled kinetic sculptures from PVC; and Erno Rubik, creator of the internationally famous Rubik’s Cube puzzle.
MeconoMorphs are Genel’s prodigy: geometric sculptures that are eye-catching, “alive” and invite interaction. The precision and balance that is required to construct his works gives them an animated feel, as they stand, unsupported, on their own. As they are not mounted on a wall, the sculptures can be circled 360 degrees by the viewer.
“That blend of precision and expression has become the foundation of everything I do. It allows me to move between technical structure and conceptual depth, which is an essential duality in my work.”
Genel says that Vero Beach has played a meaningful role as a seedbed and a stage for his work’s evolution. His MeconoMorph was awarded Second Place in the Vero Beach Art Club’s 2024 Art by the Sea Exhibition, and First Place at the prestigious show in 2025.
His work has been seen at various venues around town, including lobby of Riverside Theatre, and his ‘Tree of Life: Bonsai’ sculpture is currently featured at the Vero Beach Outlets.
The awards and exposure have spawned his Elevate Your Fundraising with MeconoMorph initiative, which invites nonprofits to host immersive installations at their events. Since the projects have proven their feasibility, Genel says they are now on the verge of significant expansion.
“MeconoMorph turns an event into an experience. They are expressions of transformation, connectivity and shared purpose. I’m actively seeking the right nonprofit partner to help launch this next chapter,” says Genel.
“The installations aren’t just visual spectacles. They are evolving structures that symbolize unity, sustainability, and community engagement. Built from repurposed business cards, each addition becomes part of a living, breathing sculpture that grows throughout the event.”
He explains that the benefit to the nonprofit is that a MeconoMorph event offers a fresh, artistic approach to fundraising and philanthropy. The bigger-than-life centerpieces invite attendee participation and spark conversation. They also demonstrate eco-conscious values through sustainable materials, and may ultimately become iconic symbols of the organization.
Genel describes his MeconoMorphs as a cultural phenomenon, one that bridges art, science, sustainability and business, while emphasizing the artistic side as the most accessible entry point.
He explains that older installations weaken and fade with time, even as newer ones emerge. This organic life cycle is not only built into the structure, but imprinted into Genel’s philosophy.
“They’re not built to last forever, and that’s precisely what makes them feel alive.”
Photos by Joshua Kodis
