Foto:Oleksandr Arkhipenko, “Woman combing her hair” (fragment)
At the Christie’s auction in New York on May 22, 2024, the bronze statue “Woman Combing Her Hair” by the Ukrainian cubist sculptor Oleksandr Arkhipenko was sold for $5.1 million, which became a record price for a Slavic sculpture. Arkhipenko, a native of Kyiv, is known for his revolutionary approaches in art, and his works are highly appreciated in the international arena.
Oleksandr Arkhipenko, born in Kyiv in the family of an engineer and an icon painter, showed an interest in art from an early age, which intensified after an accident that forced him to leave his studies for a long time and take up painting. Later, he left the Kyiv Art School and continued his education in Moscow and then in Paris, where he met the leading representatives of Cubism, such as Pablo Picasso and Fernand Léger.
One of Archipenko’s key innovations was the use of “negative space” in sculpture. This technique consisted in introducing voids into geometric shapes, which gave his works lightness and imbued with light. This approach was partly inspired by Eastern philosophical concepts of emptiness, which added depth and symbolism to his sculptures.
“Woman Combing Her Hair” is a vivid example of this style: the sculpture, created in 1915, symbolizes the idea of inner light and spiritual energy, revealing invisible aspects of the inner world to the viewer. This principle was later used by other artists, such as Salvador Dali, but it was Archipenko who became its pioneer.
Arkhipenko’s creativity continues to remain significant even today, which is evidenced not only by the record price for his works, but also by the recognition of his contribution to world art. A street in Kyiv named after him is a reminder of the importance of his legacy and the fact that even at a distance of time and space, the influence of his art remains relevant and significant.
This was reported by Time Ukraine Israel, referring to the Focus source.
