Olexander Klimenko | Mother of God "Jumping Baby"

OLEXANDER KLIMENKO
Mother of God "Jumping Baby", 2022

Tempera on wood from ammunition boxes abandoned by Russian soldiers on battle fields near Kyiv and rescued by Ukrainian deminers.

61 x 36.5cm | 24 x 14.4 in

The image of one of the most precious moments of motherhood is the joyful, playful gesture of the Infant in the arms of the Mother. At first glance, the pose of the Baby is just a childish gesture, but behind it is the cross that speaks of the coming crucifixion. During the war, this duality firmly entered the life of every Ukrainian. You can play with children, communicate with friends, hug your parents, but behind every joy there is a reminder of the tragedies that have already happened and continue to happen on our land now. The image was painted thinking of Ukrainian mothers who continue to lose their children.

© Olexander Klimenko

Icons on Ammunition Boxes 
From 2015, Ukrainian artists Sonia Atlantova and Olexander Klimenko have been using wooden fragments from ammunition boxes abandoned by Russian soldiers on the battle fields in Ukraine to paint icons and donating all sale proceeds to mobile hospitals that provide urgent medical care to wounded Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in late February, 2022, their work remains more relevant than ever.