The Saviour of Cherobyl 2003

This Orthodox icon, "The Savior of Chernobyl," probably made with egg tempera, is not so much about showing as it is about feeling. Look at the clouds, that's a particularly physical space. It looks like the paint has been pushed around, almost sculpted, to make this very tangible, fluffy form. And then there's the gold leaf behind it, making a really subtle texture that shimmers as you move. The icon depicts holy figures hovering over a barren landscape, with those affected by the disaster below. The mark making is precise, but the colours are so intense, so emotional. It makes me think of Giotto, and how he used colour to create drama. But unlike Giotto, this isn't about one moment in time. It’s about the ongoing, evolving process of belief, and the hope for salvation. The icon reminds us that art, like faith, is not about fixed answers, but about holding space for ambiguity and multiple meanings.