Softener of Evil Hearts. The icon of the blessed Seven-shot Artist |
Softener of Evil Hearts. The icon of the blessed Seven-shot Artist |
The work of an unknown artist is a non-canonical image inspired by the Orthodox icon
Softener of Evil Hearts.
According to Orthodox tradition, the icon depicts Madonna with her head covered and seven swords stuck in her heart. The number seven denotes the fullness of grief, sadness, and heartache. Standing before the icon, believers ask for reconciliation of adversaries, deliverance from cruelty and war.
The work of an unknown artist is a non-canonical image inspired by the Orthodox icon Softener of Evil Hearts. According to Orthodox tradition, the icon depicts Madonna with her head covered and seven swords stuck in her heart. The number seven denotes the fullness of grief, sadness, and heartache. Standing before the icon, believers ask for reconciliation of adversaries, deliverance from cruelty and war. |
A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also. That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Luke The work of an unknown artist is a non-canonical image inspired by the Orthodox icon Softener of Evil Hearts. |
The Orthodox patriarchs did not unite against the war in the spring of 2022; from now on, art takes a responsibility for spiritual growth and calls on society to soften hearts, mercy, and end wars and humanism. Therefore, the artist depicts a maiden with an uncovered head here, whose heart is pierced by seven arrows. In the medieval tradition, the master did not sign the work, icons were created by "anonymous". It was believed that the icon painter is a vessel for God's work.
The author of the painting also remains anonymous, though her religion is art. |
Padiglione Morto
Giardini entrance
The noncanonical icon of the Blessed Seven-Shot Artist will be presented together with the sound installation by Alexey Zelensky The Dead Pavillion and videography by with media artist Marco Aurelio Di Giorgio.
The painting in the center of the Pavilion is a non-canonical image inspired by the Orthodox icon Softener of Evil Hearts.
The Pavilion has no walls. Instead, it takes up the space with sound. The black bottles/bombs that are placed around the icon work as a wind organ. When the wind blows, the structure comes to life producing howling sounds in many pitches at once. These are the voices of the desolation of war. Once the weather calms down, the Pavilion falls silent – and dead.
The Dead Pavilion is an unofficial participant in the 59th International Art Exhibition in Venice.
Softening evil hearts in Venice During the Second World War, soldiers of one of the Italian units stationed on the Don found the icon Softener of Evil Hearts in a destroyed house. The Italians prayed to the icon for a speedy return home and the end of the war. Retreating, they saved it: the chaplain of the Policarpo regiment took the icon to Italy, where a chapel was built especially for it in Mestre (the mainland of Venice). They called the icon Madonna di Don. Softener of Evil Hearts, again, traveles to Venice during the war times. |
MUSICA SEGRETA
Alexey Zelensky’s Gesualdo project in collaboration with Oksana Devochkina.
18 December 2022 / 18:00
