Ekatherina S.
Savtchenko, studied art at the Fine Arts Academy of St. Petersburg in her native Russia and later at the Fine Arts Academy in Düsseldorf, freely admits that she uses fire as the theme of these later works because of its potent symbolism. "Fire can be used in so many ways," she states, "when people are afraid of something new, the use fire, as the fascists did with books." She continues, "but fire also is like a trail, a baptism, and a cleansing agent."
She starts with a large photograph of herself in various poses, which are all part of a conceptual dance piece she does in conjunction with the openings. Savtchenko is a slim, blonde woman with long tresses, and her figure, distorted by the camera, and further distorted by her energetic application of paint, is well suited to the range of emotions, feelings and temperatures which she spans with her work.
Since she paints using her fingers, the "Fire" paintings are full of energy and sensuality. Just like our ancestral cavemen brethren, who left thousands of finger marks and tracks in the moist walls of the caves of Spain and France, there's something primeval, almost child-like in painting with our fingers.
In the hands of this talented artist, that feeling is elevated to a furious zenith and delivers with the raw emotional power of a piece of art which has brilliantly delivered its message.
"Music, Blue" Acrylic on canvas 28X35
"This Way Upstairs" Acrylic on canvas 79X59
For more information on Ekatherina Savtchenko and a full collection of her work currently available
please Contact Polonaise Art Gallery