The problem of social and anthropological crises in the painting of Vasyl Kurylyk

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to solve the problem of social crises and human degradation in the secular paintings of the Canadian-Ukrainian artist William Kurelek (1927-1977) on the example of selected works. Methodology. General scientific and interdisciplinary research methods were used to solve the set tasks: analysis, synthesis, hermeneutic and comparative methods. The method of formal and stylistic analysis made it possible not only to identify the origin of individual works, but also to characterize the artistic processes that took place in the Canadian-Ukrainian environment and which are reflected in the work of W. Kurelek. This methodological approach helps us to characterize the composition of the work (space, time, color, light, composition, perspective). Scientific novelty. For the first time in the context of art discourse, on the example of specific works of the artist, we analyzed the acute social problems that William Kurelek showed in his paintings. Conclusions. The article analyzes the preconditions for the creation of some secular works by William Kurelek, as well as the artistic and stylistic features of his paintings on current social issues. In particular, we analyze the problem of globalization, social crisis and spiritual and ethical degradation of personality. Social issues are divided into: temptation, race, oppression of "inferior", abortion, fear, the routine of the "third world", the contrast of good and evil, justice and betrayal, love and hate, and others.