Heroiam
"Heroiam Slava"; Ukrainian: Героям слава! -"Glory to the heroes!". Started this while president Putin was gathering his army by the Ukrainian borders. Made first the squares and bayonet alike forms by smearing paper maché paste on the canvas. A chaotic image of a demonstration, was the first idea. While my paper maché mix was drying, the soldiers crossed the Ukrainian borders. Along the work the Ukrainian colors appeared. Symbolic details, fields and shores, against a gray background; the world beyond a nation in distress.
2022. Acrylics on 40x60 cm canvas. Mixed media. Waiting for varnish and being framed.
I was about leaving the seven squares plain. Then I found patterns of letters on them. There was an "H", a kind of an "E" and a reversed "R". The pattern of an "A" and a half of the letter "M". Only the letter "O" in the middle I had to fill in, for the name and purpose of this painting; I want to donate this work to the people of Ukraine...
A donation in a form of a painting together with a small sum of money doesn’t help much, least winning any wars. I’ve spent ten years in the army myself and know Ukraine need weapons. Horrible things, I wish I never need to lay my hands on again. Ukraine need also humanitarian aid right now, tomorrow and in the future to rebuild the nation. Just don’t know how to do this. I have ideas, but only holes in my own pockets… If you got an idea how we can make this happen, please let me know.