As exhibitions at the Victoria Art Gallery go, this is a first!
Never before has the art venue hosted an exhibition of Ukrainian icons, the work of husband-and-wife iconographers, Sofia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko. It opens tomorrow, Thursday, October 1st.
The couple live in war torn Kviv and instead of the usual wooden panels, they have chosen to use panels from ammunition boxes from the war zones in Ukraine.
As Marian McNeir MBE, ambassador for the partner city charity, the Friends of Oleksandriya, says: ” The icons are intensely moving and serve as silent witnesses and symbols of victory over life and death. The beauty of the paintings represents hope even in these tragic circumstances – there has always got to be hope. “
Zhenya Shkil, Chair of the Friends of Oleksandriya, confirmed that any funds raised will be spent on creating a rehab centre for veterans, many of them amputees, in Oleksandriya, the partner city of Bath and North East Somerset. Zhenya herself has driven second-hand ambulances to Oleksandriya, which has recently been under fierce attack from Russian drones.
She is personally involved with this inspiring medical aid project and has met many of the amputees, often young people in their twenties and thirties.
The exhibition is free and will be at the first-floor gallery until 1 November.
The Friends of the VAG are organising an Opening Evening on Thursday 1st October at 6.30 in the Upper Gallery, when Tamara Penwell, herself an iconographer, will talk about this beautiful art form and Ukrainian soloist Yuliia Lob, who came here as a refugee after the invasion, will enchant us with haunting Ukrainian traditional songs.
There are still a few tickets available – to apply, see below!
BOOKING AND PAYMENT
£15.00 per person, to include a glass of wine or soft drink.
To book: email fovagevents@gmail.com with your name and number of tickets required.
Please pay by bank transfer to our account at: NatWest Bank
Account Name: Friends Victoria Art Gallery. Sort code: 56 00 34
Account Number: 00254053. Please quote ICONS as the reference.
