The stone sculpture of “The Scythian Diana” stands still in the meadow, in the middle of the cathedral’s courtyard. The bronze “Green Madonna,” a delicate sculpture of the Virgin lulling the child is nearby. Surrounding them are some colorful couples of wood, glaze, stone... The artworks are presented at the “Point of View. From West to East” outdoor sculpture gallery, which has recently been opened in the courtyard of St. Sophia. The sculptures fit into the sanctuary harmoniously. The contemporary art is contrasting to the ancient walls, but does not look alien here. The event is central within the Second International Festival of Arts “Anne de Kiev Fest,” which is now going on in the capital.
The gallery brings together sculptors from different regions of Ukraine: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv. One of them, Petro Antyp, who also actively assisted the organizers, is a native of Horlivka, but lives in the capital due to fighting in the East. “We have been preparing the project for a long time. Early this year my colleagues drew up a sample list of sculptors to participate and invited them to come to Kyiv and look around, feel the space,” says Tetiana Kalyta, gallery owner and the project’s curator. “For choosing the participants I brought the idea of the outdoor gallery to famous sculptor Petro Antyp. I asked him how interesting the project is; he supported the idea and asked fellow sculptors. Therefore, the authors have been brought by their colleagues – and I consider the professional environment to be the most captious category.”
The organizers are thankful to St. Sophia’s directors who took the risk of allowing such an unusual project. By and large, the place is not alien to contemporary art; the Sophia’s own exhibition hall “Khlibnia” displays art regularly. But it’s the first time artistic objects take up the open space. This courage pays off: tourists from various countries eagerly take photographs next to the sculptures, and children familiarize with contemporary art in the natural environment.
“In preparing the gallery we’ve had some obstacles, primarily associated with the fact that it was the first time we organize this kind of event,” says Kalyta. “The St. Sophia’s management had no prior experience with large sculptures. So we have initially faced a bit of incomprehension and fear on their part, but all of this are natural issues to be expected everywhere in our field of work. At the end we found a common ground. I hope the project will develop, because it is great! On the first day of the display I met a Sophia’s visitor, collector and art manager from Austria. She was delighted to have chanced upon this exhibition.”
A thoughtful girl near the Metropolitan’s House is the sculpture called “Upside-down Cauldron” by Oleksandr Diachenko, artist from Kyiv. It combines the hardness of material (granite) with the softness of shapes. “Such a large exhibition in the open air is a precedent. The gallery’s organizers and the cathedral’s directors have created a unique project. I would like to especially commend the participants not from Kyiv – it takes a great effort to bring sculptures from afar,” says Diachenko. “As for the particular works, the sculpture should not be discussed. It should be looked at and felt.”
So, it would be wise to listen to sculptor’s advice and take an art walk to St. Sophia – to the exhibition “Point of view. From West to East” that will be open through June 28.
