Female archetypes in the works of Galina Wiesel

Abstract

The article delves into the representation of female archetypes in the mythology of indigenous peoples of the North through the work of Galina Mikhailovna Wiesel, a renowned Russian artist and academician. Using symbolic-cultural and analytical methods, the author identifies the defining element that shapes the artist's style, as she explores the deep meanings of traditional culture through the use of female imagery. The artist's ability to navigate complex themes, such as archaic and mythological themes, and her use of a sign-symbol style, are key factors in understanding her work. The analysis focuses on Wiesel's works created between 2009 and 2023, which are variations of personified female images inspired by Ugrian mythology and included in her project “Yugra Many Faces”. Through art history analysis, the main compositional and plastic methods used in her decorative and sculptural compositions are identified, which contribute to their distinctive “archaic” style. This style is characterized by a static and monumental expressiveness in the ceramic form, often enhanced by the use of glaze colour. Wiesel's significant contribution to Russian fine arts reveals that her engagement with mythology and traditional culture is not driven by a desire for historicism or ethnography, but rather by her attempt to capture the essence of space and time and the eternal cycle of mythological narratives. Her work as a sculptor and ceramist is a result of a profound analysis of the experiences of generations, viewed through the lens of national traditions. The uniqueness of Wiesel's work lies in her “Siberian” perception of her land, which is rooted in the image of the maternal beginning as the source of creation.