Yulia Markelova
Moscow State Academic Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov, Russia
Our time, the beginning of the 21st century, is characterized by an increased interest of society in questions of spirituality, religion. There are plentiful books on personal growth and psychology, countless “spiritual centers” and “centers for personal development” and popularization of “spiritual” practices. All this clearly demonstrates the desire of a modern man for self-knowledge. The eternal questions of being, truth and the meaning of life take on a new relevance in the context of modernity.
The history of Christian religion and Orthodox art deserves special attention. People turn to icons, frescoes, trying to understand the deep meanings implied by artists of the past. Church community is increasing every day. There is a rapid revival of religious art.
Construction of Orthodox churches and creation of their painted decoration is a complex, labor-intensive and time-consuming process, requiring participation of specialists from various fields, including those in the field of monumental painting. Evgeny Nikolaevich Maksimov is a recognized authority on modern religious art. He was one of the first artists involved in revival of centuries-old traditions of frescoes, mosaics and other classical techniques of monumental art in the 1990s.
In his work E. N. Maksimov is rethinking the legacy of Byzantine and old Russian school, most often referring to the 16th century. How powerful the impact of Byzantine culture on modern culture is can be seen from several works by Maksimov, namely murals of the Church of St. George in Cyprus, murals of the dome space of the Kazan Cathedral of Svyato-Vvedenskaya Optina Poustinia, as well as the murals in the Church of St. Modest of Jerusalem on Athos, Greece. They allow us to analyze the development of the painter’s career from its origins to the present.
Maximov is also a teacher, professor, who has won numerous awards, such as the Moscow Prize in the arts (2002), Russian Federation Government Prize in the field of culture and art (2012), the golden medal of the Russian Academy of Arts (2002) as well as medals and diplomas of the ROC. He is a Knight of the Order of St. Anne of the Russian Imperial House of the 3d degree (2014), Knight of the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh of the 3d degree (2000), Knight of the Order of St. Andrei Rublev of the 3d degree (2004) and the Order of St. Innocent of Moscow of the 3d degree (2008).