«Ilovaisk Deisis» сycle consists of thirteen artworks. The battles for Ilovaisk are one of the tragic milestones of the Russian war against Ukraine. «Ilovaisk Deisis» is an attempt to turn to this dramatic theme, using symbols and images of liturgical Eastern Christian art. Deisis – the prayer – is the central composition in the iconostasis of churches, where the saints pray for the people to the Christ Pantocrator.
«Ilovaisk Deisis» is a modern interpretation of this iconographic composition, in which its eschatological aspects are maximally emphasized (Greek eschatos – the last + logos – teaching – doсtrine about the ultimate fate of the world and man). The end of the times in this case is tied to the tragic events of August 2014: The saints pray primarily for the defenders who lost their lives near Ilovaisk.
The symbolic action of inscription of the names of Ukrainian soldiers who died near Ilovaisk was done at the performance-presentation of the cycle. According to the authors, it is dedicated to witness of eternal memory and not only to the tragic events of August 2014, but also to all who were lost.
