The project by the Ukrainian artist Olga Shteyn, titled "Piece of the Soil," has opened at the Le Dome institution in London. This was announced in the exhibition's press release.
"For a long time, since the beginning of the full-scale war, the need for beauty seemed unjustified and illegitimate under the current circumstances. However, in the inner quest for peace, tranquility, and a mental paradise, we returned to the Christian theory that beauty is the first blessing. It's a reminder of paradise, allowing you not to forget what you are searching for. My series of paintings imitates the first encounter and serves as a reminder of the imaginary space I am looking for," commented Olga Shteyn about the project.
The exhibition features three projects by the artist, focusing on the exploration of the Christian experience during the events of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The ceramic bas-reliefs titled "Part of the Soil" make up a series of narratives about the body of the world: heaven, hell, the presence of God, the punishment of sinners, and the establishment of truth. This series is about exploring the nature of faith in the presence of God as the guarantor of justice. Symbolically, the artist uses the natural fragmentary and deformed qualities of ceramics, including cracks, holes, and chips, alongside a radiant and vibrant fairytale-like decorativeness, to recreate her vision of the world.
Exhibits from the ceramic series "Part of the Soil." Exhibition promotional materials
The ceramic series "Garden" consists of 60 artifacts, serving as testimonies of the practical power of faith and hope, creating a composition of an imaginary garden. Towards the end of the first year of the full-scale invasion, the creation of this series became a meditative practice for the artist, allowing her to contemplate the future and cultivate hope.
Exhibits from the ceramic series "The Garden." Exhibition promotional materials
The series of paintings, "The Experience of Encountering Beauty First Theology," is the concluding part of the series in which the artist presents her exploration of theo-aesthetics and humanity's capacity to continue perceiving love directed towards them. It is an elaborate illustration of the artist's conception of the world and the search for paradise, based on Christian traditions. The entire series is characterized by significant white pauses that mimic light and the use of sparkles.
A painting from the series "The Experience of Encountering Beauty First Theology." Exhibition promotional materials.
The project is sponsored by Maria Kalina and her company, Kalina Art Advisory. The exhibition will take place from October 12 to October 24, 2023.
Olga Shteyn is a Ukrainian artist who works with the theme of faith and personal religious experiences. Her work on the series presented at the "Piece of the Soil" exhibition at the Le Dome institution in London is an exploration of the puzzles of her Christian worldview in times when the number of existential questions only increases: "What is faith in the justice of the world based on? How and why do we feel faith in the future, peace, God even amid this terrible war?"
