No. 4 (31) (2023)

Issue No. 4 (31) of The Art of Eurasia Journal is devoted to icon painting. We can claim a large-scale revival of this art form in our country. Almost all major exhibitions now have sections of contemporary church art. Along with traditional tempera painting, other techniques are used here, allowing artists to achieve high artistic expressiveness and spiritual fulfilment. But the increase in the number of icon painters and new decorated churches also reveals the problem of the quality of new icons. In icon painting, not only the artist's skill and knowledge of the canon are important, but also a deep immersion in tradition and an understanding that the icon and the prayer experience are interconnected. In general, we believe that it is necessary to maintain a living connection with the tradition of icon painting, and therefore the “Forum” section contains articles that reveal the features of iconography, the regional specifics of icon painting associations in Siberia and Tobolsk Province, and present the rich collections of icons in the museums of Ryazan and Yugra.

For the first time, this issue presents three articles about the wonderful Mongolian artist D. Amgalan. He is known as a graphic artist and painter whose works are recognised as classics.  In fact, he stood at the origins of the art education system in his homeland. In the section “Eurasian Heritage”, many learn with interest about the unique work of ancient art — the Pantikopean Torso, which is kept in the State Hermitage Museum. In the section “Art of the 20th–21st centuries" we can mention an article about Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts. On 4 January he turns 90, but he is still full of energy, often gives master classes for children and works continuously. The essay about him is a presentation of his art (and the artist himself) using the example of the exhibition “Painting of a Monumentalist”, which was successfully held in Siberian museums. The section “Art historians, researchers, teachers” presents an article about an outstanding researcher of ancient Russian art, author of many books reference ones for everyone who cares about the history of Christian art in our country — A.V. Ryndina, whose life was interrupted this year.