Artistic features of symbolism of Ukrainian art and iconography Cover Image

ХУДОЖНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ СИМВОЛІЗМУ УКРАЇНСЬКОГО МИСТЕЦТВА ІКОНОПИСУ
Artistic features of symbolism of Ukrainian art and iconography

Author(s): Irina Leonidivna Golub
Subject(s): Visual Arts, Semiology, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Eastern Orthodoxy
Published by: Національна академія керівних кадрів культури і мистецтв
Keywords: Ukrainian art; artistic means of expression; symbolism; iconography;

Summary/Abstract: The article is devoted to the artistic features of the symbolism of Ukrainian art and iconography. The author explores the evolution of the most prominent symbols of art iconography of Ukraine. The author concludes that the revival of spiritual experiences by means of artistic symbolism of Ukrainian iconography passed a difficult way of development and continues to perform its function in modern culture. Traditionally the spiritual features of the Ukrainian people have been the basis of the symbolism of sacred art of Ukraine.The problem of symbolism in Ukrainian art of iconography is associated with the development of Ukrainian religious art style. Development of individual style of graphic artists of Ukrainian art and iconography was an indicator of their skills. This concept is embodied in the characteristics of symbolic images, a kind of colouristic in mastery of composition and plot construction, technology performance icons. Ukrainian art style of iconography had peculiar features of symbolic images and applied a set of symbols in the form of figurative art signs. They had a religious character and expressed through abstract concepts and teachings.The symbolism of inherent artistic features of Ukrainian religious art has changed in the course of its development. The symbolism of Byzantine painting was the foundation of sacred expression in Kiev Russ. Ukrainian Christian art used symbolic signs and complement their other symbols embodied in artistic form. Artistic image of those characters served a good cause in the spread of Ukrainian iconography and were used in decorative ornamentation. Ukrainian painters made a symbolic image in Byzantium features classic contemporary style Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Artistic features of symbolism in Ukrainian iconography developed in close connection with picturesque folk traditions, revealing the identity of the character icon painting schools. Symbolic Ukrainian icons were expressive, with a clear composition treated purely in terms of decorative and geometric ornament. Ukrainian iconography of Byzantium was changed to vegetable colourful. Colourful ornaments characteristics of Ukrainian art take constructive and image-generalized function. An integrated system of formal characters or objects in the hands of saints existed in times of revival of Cossack Ukraine as a state. The main colours of the Ukrainian icon (yellow and blue) credited to the older and basic, and the system of symbols, objects in the hands of the Saints, as the successor of older traditions that previously had other means of expression of art, perhaps even colours. Symbolism of colours of Ukrainian iconography is based on the work of Dionysius the Areopagite "Areopahitikum Case". Along with the basic colours: yellow, red and blue, a special place in this work is given the gold as a symbol of divine light that was used by masters of iconography from the time of the baptism of Russ. Artistic images of characters in the form of geometric shapes (circle, triangle, rectangle) served a good cause in the spread of Ukrainian iconography and were used in decorative ornamentation. All this suggests the presence of Ukrainian iconic symbols of objects, characters, plants, animals’ symbols, geometric symbols that indicate certain historical layers. Treasury of world culture iconography joined the Ukrainian masters that brought a lot of new and valuable aspects. During evolution, using traditional means of artistic symbolism Ukrainian iconography implied rejection of dark palette of Byzantium and the transition to colour, which is full richness of colours and decorative baroque style.Features of Ukraine symbols of religious art in all its forms showed great originality and proved that Ukrainian iconography was at a high European level. Taking its origins from the Byzantine art of Ukrainian iconography formed its own special style. This style of European developments on imposing Byzantine icon painting canons and Ukrainian national character originally created for other cultures unique art features which were a harmonious combination of palettes and symbols of Ukrainian iconography.Modern Ukrainian iconography declared itself as a unique cultural and artistic phenomenon that has been formed and revealed the same European patterns of development. Developing Ukrainian icon it established its own style, unique features and symbolic image, formed a separated national school, which took its place among European schools.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 116-120
  • Page Count: 5
  • Language: Ukrainian
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