Danylo Movchan

Ukrainian painter Danylo Movchan (b.1979, Lviv) explores deeply religious iconography and themes throughout his paintings and watercolors. Combining relatively simple outlines with a masterful use of watercolors and gold leaf, Movchan constructs powerful, moving works which draw clear inspiration from church frescos and traditional Eastern Orthodox art. 

In many narratives, Christian orthodoxy in both Russia and Ukraine has been used as justification for the “brotherly” relationship between the countries. The war has presented glaring falsehoods in these narratives, particularly the distinction between Eastern and Russian orthodoxy. Movchan uses his exploration of orthodox themes as a means to challenge the narrative and explore the nature of conflict through commonly identifiable symbols. Movchan notes that in his process he “turns to topics that open the path to God for me,” looking to Christian symbols of judgment, penance and growth. With unique detail and double meaning, his watercolor pieces tell complex stories through simple subjects.

Sonya: A Sunflower Network Project features three works from Movchan, each featuring his typical religious imagery. Each piece uses watercolors to provide organic details typically reserved for finer detail techniques, resulting in an abstracted view of the internal bodily systems of his subjects. The subjects of life, death, rebirth and judgment presented by these works move with immense gravity taken in the context of the war.