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R E L IG IO U S P A IN T IN G S W IT H A M O D E R N A P P R O A C H ( A r t i s t C h r i s t i n a S a j e x p r e s s e s m o d e r n s p i r i t u a l i t y ) HALYNA KUZYSZYN "Christ” — egg tempera, 1987. Artist, Christina Saj. Photos courtesy Christina Saj. At a recent exhibit of her paintings at the Norbert Considine Gallery in Princeton, New Jersey, Christina Saj, 26, displayed her pieces under one unifying theme —religion. The exhibit consisted of a collection of what Ms. Saj calls "contemporary icons,” — not icons in the tradi tional sense, but a combination of abstract impression ism and the principal standards of iconography. Ms. Saj graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in Fine Arts. She also studied Byzantine Art History, drawing and photography abroad, and re ceived a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Milton Avery Graduate School for the Arts at Bard College. Perhaps the most influential artist in Ms. Saj’s student years was Petro Cholodny, the Younger, yvith whom she studied iconography. It was from Cholodny, that Ms. Saj learned the egg tempera technique of painting, and developed a special interest for painting icons. Egg tempera is a technique utilizing pure pigment with egg and water, applied in thin layers. “ It’s like painting with layers of colored glass,” says Ms. Saj. “ It allows for complex illusions and more unique combinations.” ” He (Cholodny) had a pretty rigid idea of what an icon was,” says Ms. Saj. She doesn’t know exactly how he would feel about her “contemporary icons," but Ms. Saj feels strongly about incorporating modern tech niques into the old precepts of iconography. The idea to create “contemporary icons,” came from her views on spirituality as well as “meeting Cholodny, seeing his work, and having him show me the ropes,” she says, “as well as creating my own vocabulary of what I’m doing today.” Being brought up in a Ukrainian household, Ms. Saj was exposed to many Ukrainian artistic influences. However, her art is a result of not only Ukrainian influ ences, but also those of artists around the world, from the past and the present. Ms. Saj’s “contemporary icons” are about a “spirit ual experience,” she says. “ Each person should have their own individual feeling about these icons.” She continues, “ religion doesn’t have the same meaning today.” Traditionally, an icon is the image of Christ cap tured by man. It symbolizes the human and divine aspects of Christ, the Mother of God and the saints. Icons, from the Latin “oikon,” or “akon” meaning pic ture, have a rich and historical legacy. ’’Jonah in the Belly of the Beast" — oil on canvass, 1994. Artist, Christina Saj. НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, КВІТЕНЬ 1994 17
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