“First Face of War,” a picture of a woman terribly injured throughout a Russian armed forces attack in Ukraine, has ended up being a picture that encapsulates the catastrophe of battle. ZhenyaGershman, a Russian-born American musician, was motivated by a photo by Wolfgang Schwan that was taken after the 52-year-old Ukrainian instructor endured a battle by Russian forces in Kharkiv. Although she made it through, her residence was totally ruined.
“It started by a spontaneous wish to do a painting that would certainly reflect just how I really felt regarding the war and share it with the world,”
Gershman informed The Moscow Times. The oil paint” First Face of War “portrays a woman with bandaged head, face covered in blood, as well as dark blue eyes that keep an eye out straight at the audience.
The background of the paint is yellow, and also Yelena’s eyes and also some of her apparel are blue– a referral to the Ukrainian flag and also its suffering nation.
When she grabbed her brush to paint, Gershman really did not have a plan — she simply googled for victims of the Ukraine war. When the musician initially saw the photo of Yelena, she didn’t understand how substantial it was — she just felt an immediate sense of seriousness and also connection.
“Her face quit me,” she said.
Gershman started to repaint as well as really did not put down her brushes up until the portrait was finished. Her good friend suggested that she get in touch with the digital photographer and also subject for their authorization to utilize the paint to help Ukrainian people.
Gershman stated that although she believed it would certainly be difficult to reach them, she had the ability to rapidly connect with Schwan that instantly sustained her initiative and also placed her in contact with Yelena Kurilo.
Gershman stated that when Kurilo discovered the idea, her initial words were: “I concur to do it as long as you don’t provide me any kind of cash. I don’t desire any type of money, I just desire this to assist my country.”
The painting was marketed by Heritage Auctions for $100,000, and also all the profits were given away to help and also support individuals of Ukraine.
Artist Zhenya Gershman Politeness of Heritage Auctions Zhenya Gershman, who is the granddaughter of the well-known Soviet poet Mikhail Matusovsky– author of the verses to” Moscow Nights “– normally paints significant, huge pictures.”Face of War, “however, is just 14 X 11 inches (35 x 28 centimeters). “The smaller the paint, the closer you want
to find towards it.”Gershman’s objective is for individuals to consider the picture for as lengthy as it requires to understand the abomination of what is occurring in Ukraine.
“The longer they look, the deeper they feel.”
Gershman claimed that Kurilo’s portrait was “repainted with oil as well as tears on canvas” due to the fact that she was weeping nearly the whole time she was painting.
“Face of War” isn’t the first time Gershman has spoken up against Russia’s political regime as well as its targets via her art. The portrait came right after she completed a collection dedicated to political detainee and opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
As a Russian emigree as well as artist, Gershman feels proud of the splendor of Russian society as well as embarrassed by its politics. Yet she believes that art and also culture can prevail over dictatorships.
After “First Face of War” was sold at the Heritage Auctions to benefit Ukraine, Gershman launched an art activity called Brushes over Bullets in which she might use her “brush against the battle.”
“It was amazing to see that a little, little, little canvas can actually increase money to put plasters on countless people as well as heal thousands of people.”
Via Brushes Over Bullets, Gershman wants to motivate people to create and share their art to show the amount of global musicians stand with Ukraine.
“We will win.”
“President,” oil on canvas, 42 x 42 inches Courtesy of Zhenya Gershman
