"Kidnapped (Defender)"
2023, glass, 230 х 115 х 70 cm
The artwork of Andriy Bokotey depicting St Demetrius of Thessaloniki (Dymytriy Solunskyi) is inspired by a unique monument of mosaic art from the early 12th century, created back then to decorate St Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv city, Ukraine. In 1938, the mosaic was taken to Moscow and has never returned to Ukraine, eventually appearing in the Tretyakov Gallery.
About the artist
Andriy Bokotey (1938, Brid) Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Honoured Artist of Ukraine, People’s Artist of Ukraine.
Born in 1938 in Brid village in Transcarpathian reg., Ukraine.In 1965, he graduated from Lviv Institute of Decorative and Applied Arts (today Lviv National Academy of Arts), Department of Ceramics. 1965-1972 - lecturer at Lviv Institute of Decorative and Applied Arts1972-1991 - freelance creative work1991-1992 - Chairman of Lviv Regional Artists Union1992-1996 - Chairman of glass art department of Lviv Academy of Arts1996-2000 - Vice-Rector of Lviv Academy of Arts2000-2015 - Rector of Lviv National Academy of ArtsSince 2015- Chairmen of Western Scientific and Artistic Center of National Academy of Arts of Ukraine
Awards:1989 - Silver Medal of Academy of Arts of USSR. 2002 - National Taras Shevchenko Prize of Ukraine. 2009 - Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. 2013 - Order of Prince Yaroslav Mudry 5 class. 2016 - Order of Prince Yaroslav Mudry 4 class.