Contemporary Icons from St Petersburg 5 April-2 May 2002

[Andrew Jameson]

Approaching Holiness
The Russian Orthodox Icon in the 21st Century

40 contemporary icons from St Petersburg
White Space Gallery, 5 April - 2 May 2002.

The creators of these icons stand in stark contrast to other 21st Century painters. Eschewing
individuality, working co-operatively, their aim is faithfully to preserve the canon of subjects and
techniques used in the first millennium. Now, as then, these images are made for worship and
contemplation, for the glory of God, leaving little room therefore for originality or innovation.
In Byzantium the icon, having inherited its classical Greek traditions, was for 1400 years the 'sole
pictorial art form', as it continued to be in Russia until the 18th century, with the reign of Peter
the Great. At the beginning of the 20th century it was seen as 'contemplation in paint.' (Count
Evgeniy Trubetskoy).
These painters share with us their concerns for the future of the icon. What is its place in art in
the 21st century? As a reminder of the wealth of a Christian tradition? Could it still assert an
inner truth? Are its painters unconsciously influenced by recent ideas and images? Might it still be
the idealised image of 'imprinted eternity and cosmic beauty' as it was for Malevich and Kandinsky?
Can it retain its spiritual purpose to focus prayer in sacred spaces?
Approaching Holiness features work by a group of icon painters who have worked together since 1992
in St Petersburg. These are their leader Olga Steblin-Kamenskaya, Tatiana Kolibaba, Maria Poltorac,
Andrey Budarin and Irina Filonova who have made icons for churches in St Petersburg, Novgorod and
elsewhere.

All the profits from the exhibition will be donated to Vozvrashenie Charitable Fund for Drug
Rehabilitation in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The exhibition opens at the White Space Gallery in St. Peter's, Vere Street, (off Oxford St.) London
W1G 0DQ, Friday 5 April - Thursday 2 May, 11 - 6 p.m. daily (closed Sundays). See
www.whitespacegallery.co.uk or call 0208 740 46 75 for more details.

There will be a lecture entitled 'The History and Contemporary Reality of Icon Painting' with
English translation at 7 p.m., 9 April. Admission £4. Concs £2.

Family Event demonstrating techniques of icon painting at 11 am, 6 April. Admission £3. Children
Free.


Anya and Michael Stonelake started White Space Gallery in 1999. 'Approaching Holiness' is their
fifth exhibition of Russian contemporary art. Previous exhibitions include:

2001 Mitki: Losers Victorious.
2001 Vladimir Shinkarev: World Literature (also shown at the Cheltenham Festival of Literature).
2001 Dmitry A Prigov: Phantom Installations
2002 ART 2002 Islington, London.

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