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The Elder Atanasije Breaks Through the Darkness of Night with Prayer, acrylic on canvas, 2021
Divinity emanating through his expression, the broad shoulders and the blessed peace of mind of the Elder Atanasije describe the balance between physical and spiritual strength. His shining figure emerges from a dark background that symbolizes the existential night and void. The gray-blue light balances the warm and the cold. The Elder’s robe is rendered in a tactile manner, the plain weave invoking the simplicity of his monastic life while also putting one in mind of the natural and comforting facets of his character. The index finger of his left hand rests easily, yet mindfully, on his forearm.
Young Nicholai of Ohrid, acrylic on canvas, 2022
Nicholai is indeed a visionary, and his portrait is visionary. That is a painting that presents us with otherworldly vi- sions of the other world. As for the clothes, the painter, without strictly following the phylacteries of the Byzan- tine tradition, succeeds in rendering the volumes in his own way. This makes his painting a cool fountain flowing with crystal-clear water. It introduces the freshest touch to today’s iconography! Without wanting it, and as if by accident, he discovered a personal unique visual identity. These are the unpredictable games of art. And the more unconscious they become, the better. — Stamatis Skliris
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