Oksana appeared in the spring and left us in the spring as well. We met thanks to the icons but became friends because of Oksana's wonderful ability to turn every meeting into St. George's Day. In that folk sense of the feast in the Balkans and Transylvania called Ederlezi. There is also a well-known folk song about how on this day, people poor and rich, healthy and sick, young and old, and every family opens doors and gates, slaughters the best lamb, brings out the most delicious food, puts on the best clothes and rejoice in spring, dancing and celebrating in a common circle. St. George opens the gates of heaven, the grass turns green, the people prepare for work in the field, shepherds gather their flocks and go to the mountains... Such a holy and blessed day, like Oksana Vynnychok was and like her icons are.
She drew full hands of inspiration from folk tradition straightly. Her icons on glass and a wooden board are influenced by Ukrainian icon painting, Romanian icons on glass and the folk culture of the Carpathians in general. But the bright colors of the old icon are not enough for Oksana Vynnychok. So she covers the background of the images and robes of the saints with lush flowers, stars, bundles of bright fabrics...
Among her favorite subjects are the icons of the Theotokos and Child, the Nativity of Christ, the Annunciation, and side by side appear such unexpected themes as the Tree of Jesse, Saint Eustace, Adam and Eve, Sophia the Wisdom of God, Saint Paraskeva, and, of course, Saint George, who overcomes the snake with the background of a flowery fairy-tale landscape.
In her article about the contemporary Ukrainian icon on glass, art critic and artist Oksana Romaniv-Triska draws attention to the "bodily" carnation of the saints in the icons of Oksana Vynnychok, which is unusual for the folk tradition. It seems that such a feature is completely embedded in the culture of the folk icon, which was intended for homes for very personal communication with God. It is as if the Heavenly Saints and earthly people grow up, live, mourn and celebrate in the same house.
Oksana has been among the Heavenly Ones for two years now. Still, here in the Iconart gallery, it seems like we're all in one house, welcoming spring together, sharing memories and love, looking at icons and pictures. In a word, somehow, we are still walking under God and waiting for one more miracle from Saint George.
Mariya Tsymbalista
The exhibition was prepared by Andriy Vynnychok, Roman Zilinko, Oleh Pelenychka, Mariya Tsymbalista.
