By Anastasia Yanushevskaya
25 photo-plastic compositions are on show — inspired by St. Trinity Roman Catholic Church, in the village of Gervyaty (in the Grodno Region’s Ostrovets District). The church is among the best examples of early 20th century neo-Gothic architecture in Belarus.
Mr. Vedrenko explains that the exhibition is unique in being fully dedicated to a single Roman Catholic church, studied from all angles: sculptural, architectural and spiritual. Being a professional architect, he accidently discovered the church, viewing it ‘as a true pearl of Belarusian architecture — not appointed or renewed, but a pearl which exists quietly unnoticed’. “This is an example of architecture and art of which Belarusians can be truly proud, without thinking that something better might exist in Europe,” asserts Mr. Vedrenko.
The master uses his own original style — called ‘photo-plastics’. “The method is often called a photo montage,” explains Mr. Vedrenko, adding that he uses digital technologies to create ‘visually pure works consisting of many components’. These reflect his impressions and recollections. “When we recollect something, we don’t just see one image but several, each layered upon one another in parallel. Some images are connected with the place while others might relate to something else,” he explains.
The curator of the gallery, Yekaterina Savitskaya, notes that Gervyaty Mysteries is an interesting phenomenon in Belarusian photography — both from the point of view of Belarusian culture and in attracting attention to little-known sights.
