Everything new is a well-forgotten old. This saying holds true for Kyiv painter Oleksandr Kudryavchenko, who brought back to life the ancient technique of hot wax painting.
The technique, called encaustic, originated in Egypt around 100 AD. Wax portraits of the dead were painted on panels and then attached to their mummies ready for burial. One of the most precious forms of classical art, encaustic is rarely practiced these days.
Kudryavchenko, 35, grew fond of the style while doing a final project for his art school. Wax is very natural, and it sticks to any surface, he mused. “Moreover, it gives volume and shadows to the painting, which makes it alive in a way.”
Also, the wax sets quickly, making it both beautiful and challenging to use this material. One must think fast when putting the ideas together. With traditional oil painting, an artist can go back and forth contemplating shades, overlaying strokes and letting the objects mutate. A wax painting allows for no procrastination or soul searching of this type.
Mummy portrait of a young woman, from the second century A.D., is displayed in Louvre, Paris. (Wikipedia).
Inspired by his trip to Spain, Kudryavchenko finished a triptych called “Pomegranate Tree” in just four hours, for example. “Whatever you see there is like a fairy tale: nature, architecture, people, poetry and music,” said the painter.
This particular art work will compete for Ukraine at the International Biennale of painters and sculptors in Croatia, on Aug 23-Sept 13.
Olena Zhyvkova, art historian at the Khanenkiv Museum of Arts, said wax painting is difficult and rare, so Kudryavchenko’s work has a great chance of success.
“Most secrets were lost in the ages,” said Zhyvkova. Referring to the widespread use of wax painting by Egyptians, she said: “They covered the face of the dead person with the portrait for the soul to find its body in the afterworld.”
To paint, wax has to be melted liquid, and then mixed with some natural dyes. Special brushes are used for it as well. Before oil-based paints gained popularity, wax was used to paint cathedrals and icons.
Pomegranate Tree triptych by Oleksandr Kudryavchenko (Olha Novak)
Unlike many other artists that tend to represent Ukraine at international competitions, Kudryavchenko is not famous to the nation’s beau monde. Evgen Karas, owner of a modern art gallery, said he had never head of Kudryavchenko until he saw his work recently. But after looking at Kudryavchenko’s paintings, Karas concluded: “He’s a professional artist, and decorative characteristics are more important for him than content.”
Sensing that Ukrainian collectors and art critics are more interested in modern trends, Kudryavchenko prefers to look towards Europe. “Their [European] history of the artist-audience relationship is longer than ours. They are better educated and more appreciative than us,” he explains.
But even if his wax paintings find benign judges abroad, he’s not sure he wants to sell it. Since everything is more expensive in Europe, the artist brought all materials to Spain from home. It took a month of contemplation to get anything onto canvas. But in the end, the “Pomegranate Tree” was born and it became too dear for the artist to part with.
“Some paintings mean too much to be sold. But if I decide to do it, it might cost around $4,000,” he said reluctantly putting a price tag on his favorite artwork.
