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June 13 - June 20, 2010 |
Heroes captured the classic way
Portrait exhibit showcases Canadian Olympic athletes
By Elliott Pen
Originally Published: 2010-02-28
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Portrait of Simon Whifield by artist Veronica Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan.
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There is electricity running across Canada right now. While our Olympic athletes might be the source of the buzz and excitement, Canadian artists too are channeling this new level of nationalism in inventive ways.
One such project was undertaken by the Portrait Society of Canada in the upcoming “Canadian Olympic Athletes: A Dialogue in Art,” opening March 2 at the John B. Aird Gallery. The showcase tries to capture the spirit of sport and athleticism in the classic art forms of portrait painting and sculpture.
“I’m a big fan of sports. As a teenager I was active in track and field,” says Veronica Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan, founder of the Portrait Society and the originator of the project featuring Canadian Olympians and Paralympians.
Tsyglan hopes the exhibit will have a far-reaching impact.“I thought it would help write our Olympic history,” she says since the technique involved in both portrait painting and sculpture gives a different depth to the subject than traditional photography could ever capture.
The portraits themselves, from a number of Canadian artists including Tsyglan, run the gamut of sports, eras, and seasons. Notable Olympians in the exhibit include Nathalie Lambert (short track speed skating), Daniel Nestor (tennis), Donovan Bailey (sprinting), and opening ceremony flag bearer Clara Hughes (cycling and speed skating).
Speaking of Hughes, Tsyglan recalls her pride when she saw the athlete take centre stage at the opening ceremony in Vancouver: “I was ready to cry when I saw her [Hughes] carrying the flag.”
But not all of the athletes featured in the exhibit are as well known to Canadians.
As Tsyglan discusses her inspiration behind her portrait of Judo Olympian Sasha Mehmedovic, she notes the common emotions that connect athletes and artists.
Love and fear are crucial to success in both sport and art. And while love serves as the driving force to better one’s craft, fear can get in the way of goals. The artist relates this theory to Mehmedovic.
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