Troitsk Leads New Renaissance in Russian Icon Art With Breathtaking New Masterpieces
An exhibition of contemporary icon art opened in Troitsk, in New Moscow. It's called "Painting with a Needle." The images of saints are embroidered with golden and pearly threads, beads, and even gems.
Anna Korsakova repors on what this technique is interesting for.
The Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Troitsk is a masterpiece in itself. From today, it'll serve as an exhibition venue. An exhibition of unusual icons has been opened here for a very good reason.
Vladimir Medinsky, Minister of Culture: "We'd like the Troitsk Science City, which has been included in New Moscow, to have its own exhibition center. The Church of the Life-Giving Trinity is the biggest in New Moscow. We decided that its lower level will turn into a venue for art exhibitions."
These masterpieces are not painted but embroidered with golden threads and gems. It took the artists more than a year to create the Savior on the Water icon. Seven embroiderers spent 14 hours a day to make it. Some of them were responsible for the face, the others for the folds of the chiton. The gems here have a symbolic meaning.
Embroidered icons appeared a long time ago. This tradition came to our land from Byzantium when Rus' had just been Christianized. They were widely known as gonfalons and popular over the country.
Natalya Gorkovenko, the head of Prikosnoveniye Art Shop: "The desire to decorate sacred images appeared in the early Orthodox period when people wanted to make the most precious thing they had look beautiful. Maybe, it started in the times of the first disciples of Jesus. We don't know because those icons didn't survive to our century".
The specialists of the art shop decided to restore the ancient techniques. They have been preparing the exhibition for seven years. Throughout that period, 22 icons were created, and it was worth the effort. The shining beauty of the icons mesmerizes the visitors. Even those who are not at all religious come here to have a look.
Vladimir Medinsky: "We wanted that this exhibition made more people come to churches, even if they have secular views. I think it's really important".
Before it came to Moscow, the exhibition was a great success in Paris. It was exhibited in the capital of France, in the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Over 14,000 Parisians came to look at the embroidered icons. Earlier, these modern gonfalons made a hit in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. It's the highest praise for those who work to revive this ancient form of art.
Natalya Gorkovenko: "25 exhibitions, more than 1,000 pieces of work in these 13 years. This indicates a great interest of the public to this art. We collected almost 18 volumes of reviews after the exhibition in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The exhibitions lasted for more than two years. It means that people have the deepest respect for this art."
The exhibition in Troitsk will be open during the whole winter holiday period, until January 30.
Anna Korsakova, Alexander Botkin, Vesti, Troitsk