Alina Hrubets
Painting
Alina Hrubets is a young Ukrainian artist who lives and works in Lviv. She was born on July 3, 1997 in Lutsk. The development of her creative expression began during her studies at the Lutsk Art School. She furthered her professional education at the Lviv National Academy of Arts. Currently, her artistic practice is focused on exploring sacred art, mainly icons and paintings on Christian themes. Her main references are the ancient Ukrainian icon painting tradition and the work of Ukrainian modernist artists who reinterpreted Byzantine stylization. They served as an inspiration for the artist to continue the tradition of icon as a spiritual and cultural value, giving it a contemporary interpretation. In addition to the visual aspect, the artist emphasizes the symbolic richness of icons, the captivating process of interpreting symbols and allegories. The author strives for contemporary Ukrainian sacred art to become a subject of interest for a wider audience, as a means of conveying spiritual human values.
In her work, Alina uses techniques of old masters, such as a specially prepared wooden board as a base and she prepares the gesso herself, works with egg tempera, but currently prefers acrylic and experiments with mixed techniques. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she has been in Ukraine. Reflection on the theme of war is reflected in the color palette of her works, dominated by shades of black, gray, and red. Alina has participated in many group exhibitions, charity auctions, and has been a resident at several international icon painting plein airs. Her works are in private collections in countries such as Germany, Poland, Italy, America, and Australia.
One of the most important projects she has recently completed is the polychrome of the dome space of the wooden church "Ascension of the Lord" in the Lemko village of Gladyszow in Poland. For Alina, as a co-author of the project, this was her first independent monumental work to organically complement the historical shrine of 1939 with innovative frescoes.
EDUCATION
2021
Master, Department of Sacred Art, Faculty of Fine Arts and Restoration, Lviv National Academy of Arts(Lviv, Ukraine)
2018
bachelor, Department of Sacred Art, Faculty of Fine Arts and Restoration, Lviv National Academy of Arts(Lviv, Ukraine)
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
2023
"Christmas exhibition" at the Iconart Contemporary Sacred Art Gallery.(Lviv, Ukraine)
The Third All-Ukrainian Lysenko Biennale at the White World CSC(Kyiv, Ukraine)
"ECCE HOMO" Easter exhibition at Iconart Contemporary Sacred Art Gallery.(Lviv, Ukraine)
"Ukrainian Icons" at the Collegium Orientale in Eichstätt, at the Catholic Academy STAPELFELD.(Kloppenburg, Germany)
2022
"The Christmas Exhibition" at Iconart Contemporary Sacred Art Gallery(Lviv, Ukraine)
Christmas exhibition of icons, initiated by the gallery of contemporary sacred art Iconart, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy(Philadelphia, USA)
"Measure", Frank's House(Lviv, Ukraine)
"Zamlynnia/Zamłynie" icons from international plein airs 2011-2019, integration center in Zamlynnia, Museum of Volyn Icons(Lutsk, Ukraine)
2021
The exhibition "THE WORD BECAME FLESH" of icons from the XII International Icon Painting Plenary in Novitsa for 2020 at the Warsaw Museum of the Archdiocese, Lviv National Museum named after Andrey Sheptytsky.(Poland)
"Master's 2021", exhibition of master's degree graduates' thesis works, gallery of LNAM.(Lviv, Ukraine)
2020
"PSALMS", an exhibition of icons from the XI International Icon Painting Open-Air in Novytsia in 2019 at the Warsaw Museum of the Archdiocese, Poland, Lviv National Museum named after Andrey Sheptytsky.(Poland)
2019
"The 7th Biennale of Church Art"(Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria)
"CZAS ŻYCIA CZAS ŚMIERCI", an exhibition of icons from the X International Icon Painting Open-Air in Novytsia in 2018 at the Warsaw Museum of the Archdiocese, Lviv National Museum named after Andrey Sheptytsky, Ukraine.(Poland)
2017
"Easter Red", Guest House "Archistratig"(Lviv, Ukraine)
"Under the patronage of St. Luke", National Museum named after Andrey Sheptytsky(Lviv, Ukraine)
Artist statement
My art is a reinterpretation of the Byzantine icon painting tradition with an individual visual language. My artistic practice is inspired by the icon, calling for deep meanings, the process of understanding allegories and symbols, and how their significance is projected onto the real modern world. Through my own works, I not only cultivate the artistic and cultural value of the icon but also its relevance. The core of my artistic exploration in the field of sacred art is driven by the core Christian moral values such as goodness, selfless love, and sacrificial giving, which, in my opinion, are a result of love, one of the languages it speaks. The leitmotif of sacred painting for me is also the concept of light. Light that enables us to "see," to discover what was previously unnoticed in the darkness, light that expands the boundaries of consciousness, enlightens, and transforms. In particular, the idea of light helps me to reveal a personal component, adding myself to the art. In my works, I am interested in achieving the effect of glowing from within the figures, experimenting with color and tone. The image that emerges attracts attention, calls for interaction, as the light of divine Glory has left its imprint, its mark. From now on, this is the guiding light. The modern challenges of full-scale war prompt the choice of iconographic subjects, the defining theme of which is the victory of good over evil, the victory of life over death. This victory is possible thanks to Christ's sacrifice, to which Ukrainian soldiers are now likened. After death comes the moment of Resurrection, on which we also rely in the context of modern war. My art aims to illuminate the darkness, to give new hope, to support the belief in rising from the ashes someday. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever," so undoubtedly sacred art serves as a support through the centuries, especially in difficult times. In my future creative endeavors, I aim to explore the context of war as a transformative instrument for the rebirth of the Ukrainian nation and the global world as a whole.
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