Alena Vavilina Sculpture - "Abduction of Europa" (2021)

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Ancient & Ethnographic Art Through The Ages

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 10, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-02-10 10:00:00 2022-02-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient & Ethnographic Art Through The Ages https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-art-through-the-ages-8873
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• Lot Description
  Alena Vavilina (b. Russia, b. 1986). "Abduction of Europa" - Mixed media: patinated copper and concrete base. 2021. Signed and dated "AV / 02-21" underneath base. An elegant sculpture by award-winning contemporary artist Alena Vavilina, "Abduction of Europa" presents Vavilina's interpretation of this Classical theme - the legendary abduction of Europa by Zeus transformed as a bull. Created with Vavilina's minimalist approach, it is the first from the artist's mythological series. The abstract figural composition is comprised of patinated copper - both openwork copper wire silhouettes as well as relief phallus and female genitalia at the center. The copper imagery rises from a cylindrical cement base that Vavilina cleverly embellished with flutes to suggest a classical column. A fascinating interpretation of this theme from classical mythology by Alena Vavilina, an artist whose star is on a meteoric rise in the art world. Size of copper sculpture + cement columnar base: 3.75" W x 11.625" H (9.5 cm x 29.5 cm)
  
  Numerous artists and sculptors have been creating paintings and sculptures dedicated to the Abduction of Europa, revealing their personal visions of this myth. Vavilina decided to take a risk and recreate her own vision of the myth in her own mixed media style with a minimalistic approach.
  
  In Greek mythology, Europa was a Phoenician lady of elite lineage, for whom the continent of Europe was ultimately named. The iconography of these reliefs was inspired by the legendary Cretan story of Zeus abducting her in the form of a white bull. According to Classical scholar Karl Kerenyi, "most of the love-stories concerning Zeus originated from more ancient tales describing his marriages with goddesses. This can especially be said of the story of Europa." (The Gods of the Greeks, Thames and Hudson, p. 108) Enamored of Europa, Zeus elected to seduce her in a crafty fashion, transforming himself into a tame white bull so that he could blend in with her father's herds of cattle. When Europa was gathering flowers with her attendants, she noticed the bull, petted him and eventually mounted his back. Zeus took full advantage of the moment, made his way to the sea and swam to the island of Crete, all the while with Europa on his back. Once they arrived, Zeus revealed his true identity to Europa, and she became the first queen of Crete. Europa bore Zeus three sons, including Minos the ruler of Crete, Rhadamanthys who ruled the Cyclades, and Sarpedon who ruled Lycia. In time she married Asterius, the king of Crete, and was worshipped under the name of Hellotis in Crete, where the festival Hellotia was held in her honor.
  
  Europa was the source of inspiration for several works of Classical literature. In the mid 2nd century BCE, the poet Moschos wrote a Hellenistic epic about Europa. Ovid's "Metamorphoses" describes Jupiter's seduction, "And gradually she lost her fear, and he/Offered his breast for her virgin caresses,/His horns for her to wind with chains of flowers/Until the princess dared to mount his back/Her pet bull's back, unwitting whom she rode/Then — slowly, slowly down the broad, dry beach —/First in the shallow waves the great god set/His spurious hooves, then sauntered further out/'til in the open sea he bore his prize/Fear filled her heart as, gazing back, she saw/The fast receding sands. Her right hand grasped/A horn, the other lent upon his back/Her fluttering tunic floated in the breeze."
  
  In the Spring 2020 issue of Harper's BAZAAR Art, Alena Vavilina was introduced as follows, "Vavilina's love for art flourished from a very young age; her first tutor was her father. He was not an artist himself, but he introduced the use of water colour and still life painting techniques very early on in Vavilina's life. In her adolescent years, she enrolled into an art school in Moscow and never looked back. Vavilina has also been educated in France, England, Malta, China and Dubai – her travels have left a mark on her art pieces in one way or the other."
  
  Alena Vavilina's Artist Statement, "Alena Vavilina's art is both a unifying and graceful force as it seamlessly weaves an invisible thread binding countries and cultures. Russian by birth, Alena Vavilina grew up in Moscow. She studied in France, England, Malta, China and UAE. Her experiences in these countries and with these cultures are captured in her artistic creations.
  
  Her art is trans dimensional, as she attempts to create a world without territorial or temporal boundaries. Through formal lessons at Academic Art School in Moscow, Alena learned the principles of art, and with this foundation she created her own signature mixed media style by which she can be easily recognised.
  
  In Alena Vavilina’s art, there is the mixture of ancient Chinese style, juxtaposed with modern European civilization. It can be described as reunion of styles, time and the unique author personality. A key source of inspiration for Alena is Vincent Van Gogh, and his quote, 'I dream my painting and then I paint my dream…' represents the verbal expression of her work.
  
  The paintings of Alena Vavilina are a part of private arts collections around the world. She is curated by Gallery Artistry’s Vienna, Austria ; ART WEME Contemporary Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and IAM Gallery Abu Dhabi, UAE. Alena Vavilina's artworks and sculptures are always exhibited at the main international Art Fairs: Art Basel Miami, Art Expo Malaysia, Asia Contemporary Art Hong Kong, World Art Dubai, Carrousel du Louvre…"
  
  In addition to her mixed-media paintings, Vavilina has successfully engaged with mixed media sculpture. As we see in this example, her work transgresses boundaries of time and cultural/historical origination.
  
  Provenance: Collection of the artist, Alena Vavilina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  
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  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #168667

  Condition

  Signed and dated "AV / 02-21" underneath base. Intact and excellent with beautiful patina.
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