Arhistratig
Saint Michael is the Protector of Kyiv
Saint Michael is the Protector of Kyiv
Idea. Sketch. Embroidery
The idea of the picture came on the 9th day of the war. Kyiv was constantly bombarded then. The sketch was created for a long time, constantly refined, and work on the canvas began only on May 20. From the idea to the final – 9 months have passed. A new reality through the picture was created by December 4, 2022.

The initial idea that appeared immediately was the protection of Archangel Michael for Kyiv (and all of Ukraine). All-seeing Eye above, arms of Oranta, Lavra on shield. What Kyiv will be, the boy (as the future) and the red viburnum (another symbol of indomitability) gradually became clear.

  The size of the actual work came out as... 55cm wide (maximum width on the machine) and 125cm long. It turned out to be my largest work. The idea demanded such proportions

Protection pattern
  Moving on to the endless sky, I thought that "the sky should be closed." I started looking for information about various symbols of protection that are also in Ukrainian embroidery, and these are also generally world symbols-charms. This is how I will "close the sky": it is infinity and a quadrilateral as a network of protection. In the infinite, all-pervading evil is entangled. A quadrangle is a connection between worlds.

It was my way of closing the sky over Ukraine. Everyone has their own weapon - for me, these are meanings that are sewn into the creation of a new reality.

Protection of the sky reached 24.08.2022 – before Independence Day.

"Practical mastering" of celestial details
  When everything was at the level of a sketch, I thought: well, I laid such large parts of the Sky in vain, there will be no detail and it (in the work itself) will be boring. But - in the whole picture there is not a single centimeter of a boring part (not realized). Especially in Heaven. In Nebo, for example, protection is sewn to the shield (this was until August 24 - Independence Day), in Nebo above the Archistratig – transformation is sewn. And I couldn't even imagine myself before – how detailed the Sky can be.

The temples in the work are St. Sophia Cathedral, Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery (in honor of Michael the Archangel) and Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (on the shield). The All-Seeing Eye above symbolizes the All-Seeing God.

The little Ukrainian boy, Leo, is the same one who covered the well-known song "Oi u luzi chervona kalyna" and became a star of social networks. He conquered me too. This is exactly his image – like the image of the future in the picture.

From the Idea to Embroidery

Thread Painting Art

Author's satin stitch embroidery
Working process
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