Paola Minekov

ARTIST PORTOLIO

Painting

I followed the Star

04 January 2024

I met Betsy Blatchley from Nine Elms Art Ministry back in Feb 2023, during my artist residency at Art’otel Battersea.

We chatted briefly, and as you do, followed each other on Instagram.

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Imagine my surprise when 9 months later Betsy contacted me. Nine Elms Arts Ministry had taken over the studio at art’otel Battersea and was running a collaborative community project, called Follow the Star. During the residency, Artist Adalberto Lonardi had created a large and colourful nativity community mural, depicting a modern take on a nativity scene, together with a team of artists and volunteers. Now Betsy was curating an exhibition of artworks, created as rapid responses to the mural.

As it turns out, she had been following my art during the last year and wanted to invite me to take part in this collaborative exhibition.

I jumped at the opportunity!

As an artist, I have always been fascinated by the power and symbolism of religious and cultural icons.

The way these symbols have been used to convey deeper meanings and connect individuals to their respective beliefs has always intrigued me.

As I started researching this artwork, I realised I wanted to not only capture the beauty of these religious symbols and respond to Adalberto’s bright colour scheme, but also incorporate elements that represented time, space, direction and the cyclical nature of life. This led me to include the colour wheel split in 12, as it’s often represented in colour theory, and use it as a representation of both the clock and the months of the year.

The resulting piece is a bright, colourful, geometric star design that not only paid homage to various religious beliefs but also symbolises the cyclical nature of time and the significance of the number 12 in many cultures.

In this article, I will take you through my creative process and the symbolic meaning behind each element in my painting.

Exploring the light spectrum colours

If you’ve been following my work, you’d know how important colours are to me. I have always been fascinated by the interplay of colours in art, but a few years ago, when I was teaching art and colour theory at the Dulwich Art Group, I decided to delve deeper into the realm of light and explore the fascinating world of the light spectrum and visible colour, so I could teach my students some of the things that appeared to be second nature to me and I was unsure how to explain to others.

Starting with the basic concept of the colour wheel, we experimented with different shades and hues, trying to capture the essence of each colour and how they interact with each other and with light. For instance a colour is always reflected in the colour next to it and capturing this in a painting defines the meaning of complexity of colour and can make all the difference in your artwork. It’s also interesting to observe how the same colour may appear either warm or cool, depending on the colour next to it and the way the light falls on it.

I’m an intuitive painter and mix my colours the way I feel them. But every time I mix colours consciously, I can’t help but marvel at how colours and light are not just a visual language, they also carry unique meanings and symbolism where each shade has its own story to tell.

When I focused on star colours, I realised that intertwined with the scientific facts astronomy is full of colour references. The colour of stars, for example, is directly related to its temperature. In colour theory (and everyday life) we associated the blues with cool colours and yellows and reds with warm colours.

Did you know that contrary to what you’d expect, blue stars are hotter and red ones colder?

Time and space united - A splash of twelve vibrant hues

From the practical to the symbolic, the number twelve carries religious, mythological and magical meanings; As the twelve hues in the colour wheel, the starting point of the clock, the twelve zodiac signs and the representation of the months in a year, the number twelve carries a sense of order, completeness and perfection.

Significant since antiquity, twelve is recognised in Ancient Greece, the Judeochristian, Muslim and Hindu traditions. From the twelve Titans and twelve Olympians, to the twelve Tribes of Israel, symbolised by twelve starts in Virgins Mary’s crown. There are twelve apostles and twelve days of Christmas.

Twelve keeps coming back in ancient texts as well as contemporary culture. For example, we send our children to school for twelve years. And so ultimately, there are twelve points on my start.

Incorporating this symbolism into my painting, I carefully selected a palette of twelve colours, referencing both the colour wheel (with a level of artistic freedom) and the colours of Adalberto’s mural. The interplay of these colours brought my geometric composition to life, infusing my painting of a twelve pointed star with a dynamic energy. It is an exploration of art, symbolism, and the magic of colours, creating a visual experience which, I hope, resonates with viewers on a profound level.

Sacred stars

The star’s significance, as the eight pointed Star of Bethlehem associated with the birth of Jesus, the Star of David in Judaism, the Seal of Solomon in Islam, and in countless other traditions, illustrates the power of a symbol to encapsulate profound spiritual teachings.

My painting started as a cross at the centre of a large six pointed Jewish star.

The Magen David - Two triangles, one powerful symbol

As an artist delving into the rich tapestry of symbolism, I have always found myself captivated by the enigmatic allure of two interlocking triangles. Like a compass pointing in all directions, you can find this star hidden in a number of my paintings. This powerful symbol, most often referred to as the Jewish Star of David, holds a deep significance that transcends boundaries of time and culture. It represents more than just a visual emblem; it embodies the intricate connection between the spiritual and physical aspects of our existence. With its equal sides and balanced angles, the star radiates a sense of harmony and unity.

After the profound impact of World War Two, the Jewish Star gained even more weight, becoming a poignant reminder of the strength and resilience of the Jewish heritage.

The patterns of stars

Following the meticulous geometric patterns, I wove together the diverse designs of stars derived from different religions, celebrating the universal fascination humans have with these celestial bodies. In my painting you will indeed also find a traditional design of the 8 Star of Bethlehem, as well as 10 pointed and 12 pointed designs often depicted in geometric muslim designs.