Today, August 5, on Ilya Repin's birthday, two bright and solemn events took place in Chuguiv with the participation of honored guests, artists, and art connoisseurs - the closing ceremony of the XXV International Repin Plein Air and the final exhibition of works by its participants.
Over the 25 years of its existence, the Repin Plein Air has become, without exaggeration, a landmark event in the artistic life of Ukraine: 312 artists from different parts of the world took part in it, and the collection of paintings of our community was replenished with more than 500 paintings of the highest artistic level. In fact, the plein air has become one of the most recognizable calling cards of our community.
Three years ago, with the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, a new stage in the history of plein air began - the International Repin Online Plein Air in Chuguev. The enemy failed to kill the child, into whom hundreds of people had invested their souls for 25 years - from the mayor of Chuguev to the employees of the Image CC, from the head of the regional branch of the Union of Artists of Ukraine to the artists, many of whom had participated in the plein air more than once.
The word that was most often heard today during the grand closing of the anniversary open-air event was «thank you.» Its organizers, participants, and guests thanked each other, first of all, for the fact that, despite difficult times, our community was able to preserve the things that are more important than anything material – our history, identity, and unity around beauty.
The name of everyone who has been involved in the history of the plein air during these years was remembered with great respect and gratitude. The head of the MVA, Galina Minaeva, especially emphasized the love and dedication with which the staff of the CC "Image" treated the holding of the plein air and the design of the final exhibition, which even in conditions of remote communication managed to literally infect all participants with the spirit of Repin, even from very distant countries.
By the way, the level of works presented at the final exhibition is literally impressive: in different styles and techniques, the artists managed to convey the atmosphere of Repin's homeland, to recreate the unique aura of Chuguev, which our great countryman kept in his heart throughout his life.
So, the anniversary 25th International Repin Plein Air has come to an end. Let us wish him and all of us that the next 25th will take place under the peaceful Chuguiv sky, in the usual format that we all love so much!
