On April 27, in Dumska Square, in front of the Odesa City Council, a new sculpture by Mikhail Reva, one of the world most famous Ukrainian sculptors, was unveiled.
The artwork called “Epiphany Now” depicts a large pair of glasses, on whose frame there are hundreds of copper bullets. Reva utilizes the metal originally made for bullets. He also used exploded bullets, turning them into beautiful metal flowers, as the Easter celebration of the defeat of death and the hope of salvation.
The letters “XB” (in the Cyrillic alphabet it is read “KhV”) formed by the shape of the glasses, mean “Khrystos Voskres” – Christ is Risen. It is a religious expression well known among Slavic peoples, which symbolize Easter, standing for Peace and Love.
The meaning is closely linked to the current historical moment. Ukraine is today under enemy invasion and is experiencing tragic months of injustice and brutal bloodshed. The severity of the pain and the desire to fight unprecedented evil reveal in Ukrainians a new creative potential to fight military aggression and evil. Therefore, the Ukrainian sculptor explores forms born from the energy of war and which represent evidence of Russia’s inhumane crimes against the Ukrainian nation. Mines, bullets and missiles, distorted by explosions, form integral metaphorical images. Mikhail Reva takes a unique approach to covering the traces of the Ukrainian tragedy. In his hands, explosive projectiles are transformed into metal flowers and take on a new meaning.
After going through the torments of hell, Christ was resurrected in the name of love for humanity. However, now humanity lives in an era where evil rules the world, violating the commandments of Christ. Christ was resurrected so that the world could see the truth. The Epiphany (“visual manifestation”) project appeals to the audience, inviting them to free themselves from blindness by putting on glasses and see the true essence of what is happening, to see that love is in danger.
The sculpture is the result of a Ukrainian-Italian-American partnership. The project “Epiphany Now” is an artistic collaboration between the Ukrainian sculptor and Italian designers of hand-made eyewear Antonio Battaglia and Marco Andreoni. The project is under the direction of the Latin Grammy Award Winner, Ukrainian-American producer Alex Sino.
The Italian artisans, who founded the brand “In Barberia” in Venice, have been producing custom-made frames for almost half a century. Each of their products is an elegant example of refined Italian style, combining the best traditions of Italian classics and modern fashion trends.
Thousands of kilometers from Venice, in the Ukrainian sister city of Odesa, unique art-objects have been created by Mikhail Reva. Reflecting in his art the tragic months of the war in Ukraine, the artist explores the objects that carry the energy of war transforming them into new metaphorical images.
The sculpture will remain on display in Odesa through the Orthodox Easter, which falls on May 5.
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
Comments ( 1)
According to who is this commercial artist called Reva one of Ukraine's most significant sculptors? The object is a piece of superficial banal junk fluffed up by a lot of pretentious hot air BS. Ukraine must do far better than this in its public spaces to honor its rich cultural legacy. Imagine! - a giant pair of glasses with bullets glued onto it and the bullshitters shamelessly dare to reference Christ's work on the cross with this piece of meaningless commercial garbage
@Carl,
I believe the point behind modern art is to evoke emotions. Sounds like it worked, but perhaps not as expected. You just took aim at a man whose country is being blown apart and its citizens murdered by the putler...and you were mad enough about one of his art creations to kick him. Whose side were you on again 'carl'?
Kyivpost features all kinds of artists...musicians, singers, sculptures, poets. Some resonate a lot, some not as much...none to the point of making me spew hate at its creator.
The MGRA trolls are doing a stunning job sowing hate against Ukraine, and Ukraine supporters don't need to add to it by insulting their artists.
@Carl, your comment is a typical example of Pharisees. Usually, people with little respect for other people post such garbage trying to insult others while covering their own emptiness. The Pharisees paid attention to external rites and deeds, depicting righteousness, but they did not care whether they were righteous in their hearts. That's hy Jesus called them hypocrites. This lesson is devoted to how the Savior condemned the hypocrites - people who try to look righteous but do not try to live righteously.