Sophia of Kyiv 1966

Curator: Oh, that sky! It feels almost feverish, doesn't it? A vibrant, unsettling beauty. Editor: Absolutely, the colours pulsate. It's like looking at the city through heat waves. I find it slightly overwhelming but fascinating. This is Yuriy Khymych's "Sophia of Kyiv," painted in 1966 using acrylic on canvas. Khymych captured architectural cityscapes with a Post-Impressionist, Expressionist approach. Curator: The subject matter—St. Sophia Cathedral—carries incredible weight, culturally and spiritually. It represents the heart of Kyiv, a testament to Byzantine influence, a place of collective memory, refuge, and identity. But the Fauvist and naive styling feels intentionally...disruptive, for a monument so revered. The distortion speaks to more than simple representation. Editor: You can tell Khymych knew how to depict and trigger recognition of St. Sophia, then he pulls back. He’s making you work, disrupting assumptions. Notice the sharp outlines, and flat fields of colour? He knew his craft; yet the painting style exudes pure expressive sensibility! Curator: The strong use of blue creates a grounding effect even in a surreal setting. Blue often symbolizes tranquility and spirituality, so here perhaps, its presence brings stability to what could feel like utter chaos. It allows viewers to contemplate continuity beyond immediate disarray or anxiety. It speaks volumes, particularly considering what this location symbolizes and considering it was painted during the Soviet period. Editor: Yes! Even when art tries to depict what oppresses or disturbs it, it can become so evocative to the mind that you cannot look away from it! This cathedral, to me, despite any symbolic burdens that it carries from both political and theological associations, stands resilient, it gives off such power, but a raw and honest one, if that makes any sense. Curator: Perfectly. I hadn't thought of that tension quite so keenly. It reminds us, that powerful symbols evolve precisely by remaining relevant to different viewpoints. I appreciate you noticing how alive this is in our psyche. Editor: The same is true with you, discovering this raw symbol made by the cathedral from Yuriy Khymych!