Igor Ozhiganov: paintings, biography, reviews

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

You don't need a time machine to travel back in time for a while. Films, books, music and, of course, painting help to cope with this task. Paintings by Igor Ozhiganov will help those who want to feel a connection with the almost forgotten culture of their ancestors. This creator takes subjects for his works from the pages of Slavic and Scandinavian mythology. Gods and heroes come to life on his canvases.

Igor Ozhiganov: biography of the painter

Unfortunately, little is known about this talented person. The date of his birth is January 3, 1975. From the biography of the artist Igor Ozhiganov, it follows that he was born in the Republic of Mari El, or rather, in the city of Yoshkar-Ola. He grew up there and graduated from high school.

In 1992, Ozhiganov went to Tolyatti to enter the Volga Technological Institute of Service. In 1997 he graduated from the Faculty of Industrial Design. Igor's first place of work was the Volga Automobile Plant, wherehe worked for two years. He spent the next nine years in Moscow. Ozhiganov gained experience in various studios. Industrial design, interior design, web design - whatever he did!

In 2008, Igor returned to his native Yoshkar-Ola and joined the ranks of freelance artists. This is where he now lives and works. Ozhiganov is married and has two children. He rarely gives interviews and prefers to be judged by his work.

Creative activity

All paintings by the artist Igor Ozhiganov, thanks to which he became famous, are subject to one theme. The Creator took upon himself an honorable duty. He considered it his duty to revive interest in the culture of distant ancestors. Characters of Slavic epics and fairy tales, heroes of Scandinavian sagas come to life in his works. He seems to invite the audience to take an exciting journey into the past with him. Fiction in his works subtly resonates with reality.

Igor Ozhiganov's paintings from the "Slavic World" series have gained great popularity. Critics and fans appreciate the works of the creator for their powerful energy, inner strength. Also noteworthy is the author's amazing attention to detail. The artist devoted many years to the study of ancient sources, the study of the culture of the Slavs and Scandinavians. Everyone can admire the result of his efforts.

Bereginya

The famous "Slavic" paintings by Igor Ozhiganov deserve more detailed consideration. One of them is called "Bereginya". So our ancestors called the good goddesses who protectedpeople from evil spirits, had the ability to predict the future, took care of crops and rain for them. Beregini lived in the water, saved fishermen and swimmers from the machinations of kikimor, water and devils.

The central figure of the painting "Bereginya" is a fragile beautiful girl. Her long blonde hair is in a braid. She looks with care and love at a man crossing the river. Her hand is on his boat, as if she is trying to help him, guide him on the right and safe path.

Water

Vodyany is a famous character of Slavic mythology. This spirit lives in water, is its owner and the embodiment of its negative and dangerous beginning. Traditionally, he is represented as a naked old man with a fish tail. One of the famous paintings by Igor Ozhiganov is dedicated to him.

This canvas depicts not only the hero of Slavic mythology, who looks according to his traditional description. You can also see a naked beauty who is going to swim. The merman watches her surreptitiously and is obviously plotting something evil. Further developments will be prompted by the imagination of the viewer.

Ilya Muromets

The painting "Ilya Muromets" is dedicated to the hero, who is known from fairy tales and epics. Together with his comrades-in-arms Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich, this hero accomplished many feats of arms. Ilya was born in the city of Murom, thanks to which he received his nickname. For the first 33 years of his life, he could not move, and then suddenly got to his feet and went to performtheir exploits.

In Ozhiganov's painting, Ilya Muromets is depicted as a strong, fair-haired man, as he is traditionally represented. He has a heavy long sword hanging from his belt. Next to the hero is his warhorse. The attentive and serious look of Muromets is directed at some invisible enemy, with whom he is probably going to fight.

Kalinov Bridge

The artist Igor Ozhiganov dedicates his paintings not only to famous heroes, but also to famous places and structures. An example of works from the second category is the work "Kalinov Bridge". This majestic building serves as a link and at the same time a barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead. A bridge is thrown over a fiery boiling river, and a multi-headed dragon guards it.

The painting "Kalinov Bridge" by Ozhiganov depicts a warrior in a red cloak holding a shield and a sword in his hands. Everything looks as if this person is going to fight the guardian monster. Nearby you can see human remains. This can be considered a kind of hint that someone has already tried to defeat the dragon and failed.

Rod, Khors and Yarilo

The name Rod is the main deity of the Slavic pantheon. There are two beginnings in this character - male and female. His male hypostasis is represented by Svarog, and the female by Lada. It was Rod that our distant ancestors considered the creator of the Earth. In the painting "Rod" by Ozhiganov, this deity is depicted seated onmajestic throne, and the sky is his crown.

"Khors" is another well-known work by Igor. This canvas depicts the deity of the solar disk. One of his incarnations is the sacred bird Alkonost, into which Horst easily transforms if necessary. The fair-haired god is depicted on a white flying horse, in his hands he holds a spear and a shield.

The picture "Yarilo" is also of interest. It depicts a young Slavic god of spring, rebirth and prosperity. The work emphasizes the unstoppable strength and violent passion of this character, his ability to command feelings that are not subject to reason.

Scandinavian theme

"Scandinavian" paintings by Igor Evgenyevich Ozhiganov are also worthy of attention. For example, his work "One" won fame. It depicts the supreme god of the German-Scandinavian mythology. He owns Valhalla - the heavenly chamber in Asgard, which is considered a kind of paradise for valiant warriors who met their death on the battlefield. One, depicted in the picture, sits on a throne and holds a spear in his hand. Wolves keep him company.

The work "Fishing of Thor" is also of interest. As you can easily guess from the title, this picture depicts the Scandinavian god of war, storm and thunder, whose duty it is to protect humanity from monsters and giants. In the picture, Thor is depicted as a long-haired hero endowed with mighty strength. He goes out on a boat to the open sea and fights withits monstrous inhabitants. The waves raging around do not frighten Thor, he exudes confidence, demonstrates complete control of the situation.

Heimdall is another character of the German-Scandinavian mythology that Ozhiganov did not forget about. This god belongs to the genus of Ases, is considered the son of Odin and nine mothers. In the painting of the same name, he is depicted on a rearing horse. Heimdall blows his famous golden horn. According to the legend, this is how he notifies people about the coming end of the world, calls the gods to the last battle.

"Freyr and Freya" - a picture in which two deities are drawn at once. Freyr is the beautiful god of summer and fertility, he is subject to sunlight. It was to him that those who dreamed of a rich harvest prayed. Freyr does not like conflicts and wars, he tries to bring individuals and entire nations to peace. Freya is the goddess of love and war, which has no equal in beauty among mortals and gods. Her heart is filled with tenderness, she sympathizes with every suffering creature. Freya is also considered the leader of the Valkyries, who pick up the soldiers who died during the battle. The painting depicts Freyr riding a boar, which is his sacred animal. Freya drives a chariot drawn by two cats. The appearance of the gods corresponds to the descriptions given in mythology.

Reviews

Igor Ozhiganov's paintings receive both positive and negative reviews. Admirers of his work note the creator's attention to detail, his deep knowledge of mythology. Also, for many, some understatement of the artist’s works, his ability to leave room forimagination.

Negative reviews of Ozhiganov's paintings also occur. Someone does not like the atmosphere of a kind of anxiety and gloom that marked his work. Someone does not like the artist's obsession with one topic.