Sonia Atlantova | Archangel Michael - SOLD

SONIA ATLANTOVA
Archangel Michael, 2022

Tempera on wood from Russian ammunition boxes rescued by Ukrainian soldiers from battlefields near Kyiv.

40x35cm | 15.7x13.8 inches

When the suburbs of Kyiv were liberated from the Russian invaders this spring, the Ukrainian people wanted to believe that this would be followed by quick liberation of all occupied territories. They wanted to clean up, restore, wash away the dirty and bloody traces of the war. Spring began to bloom, cautious and protracted this year. People were crying while reading the news, and the victory seemed like the leader of the heavenly host - the Archangel Michael, who is rapidly driving evil back into its dark caves with the menacing sounds of the last trumpet. Since the time of Kievan Rus, Archangel Michael has also been the patron saint of Kyiv and is depicted on the coat of arms of the city.

© Sonia Atlantova

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.