Mykola Bidnyak — Laureate of the Taras Shevchenko State Prize of Ukraine in 1995, Kyiv
To the 95th anniversary of the birth of a unique artist — a member of the World Association of Artists VDMFK. Principality of Liechtenstein. Nominee of prominent world awards. Canada, USA, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Sweden. Apostolic Blessing, Pope Paul VI. Vatican. Laureate of the T. State Prize of Ukraine Shevchenko, Cavalier of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, professor of the Lviv Academy of Arts — the brilliant Maestro MYKOLA BIDNYAK
March 9, 1995 — artist Mykola Bidnyaek became the Laureate of the most prestigious State Prize of Ukraine named after Taras Shevchenko… for a series of historical paintings and portraits of the ascetics of the Ukrainian people: “King Danylo Galician”, “Hetman Ivan Mazepa”, “Dovbush”, “Battle of Krutami”, “Haydamaki”. A cycle of works from icon painting “Savior”, “The Virgin”, “Three Marys”, “Our Lady of Chernobyl”.
I am proud to be called Ukrainian… for belonging to the Ukrainian nation one has to pay with blood all the time…”. I worked and created for the glory of the immortal artistic talent of the Ukrainian people, — wrote V. Luchuk, — God’s hand guided the brush of Mykola Bidnyak”
Mykola Bidnyak is a titan of Ukrainian icon painting of the 20th century. We do not have a stronger individuality in the Sacred Art of our time. I am sure that these icons, new, modern in style, will be admired in the 21st century. This is a phenomenon in world painting. It seems that only a person rich in beauty — and unearthly beauty — can create such masterpieces, to whom another, lofty world opens up,” — Prof. Dmytro Krvavych.
Thanks to courage and talent, exceptional will to fight, Mykola Bidnyak made his own life the apotheosis of creativity, glorified the talented Ukrainian people with high art, revealed the essence of the artist-patriot, the phenomenon of human resilience and spiritual beauty.
The creativity of the brilliant Maestro was revealed to the international community by the World Association of Artists Who Paint with Their Lips or Feet, operating in the Principality of Liechtenstein, and to the Ukrainian people by the famous singer, Lviv native, the artist’s wife, Maria Majchyk-Bidnyak.
Everything that this Artist from God created urgently requires deep, comprehensive study. We still do not know who Mykola Bidnyak is for us. We do not realize that next to him with whom we walk, — Dmytro Krvavych sculptor, professor of the National Academy of Arts in Lviv.
The richly illustrated book-album “Mykola Bidnyak” represents the work of this unique artist, who was the spokesman of the original Ukrainian nation — the Ukrainian state, affirming it with the courage of his talent. An artist who never betrayed his patriotic convictions, a legendary man, an artist who, despite cruel fate, overcame what seemed insurmountable and presented to the world works of the highest artistic value in painting and graphics. At a time when the horizons of the visible world began to open up to him and the call to create an image of the world in the most acceptable way for him was awakening, he lost the most precious creative tool — his hands!
Mykola Bidnyak won in a duel with fate for his freedom, for the right of man to the highest in life — to creativity. The fire of Prometheus in his soul did not go out – in this burning, along with the frantic despair, there was a purity and a deeply dramatic order of feelings, forms and images, filled organically simply with the gradual spiritual enrichment throughout his life, because it encompassed, in addition to, of course, fine arts, music, literature, history, politics. The range of interests could be even greater.
Is it possible to imagine Mykola Bidnyak outside of painting?
Given his musical abilities and wonderful voice, as well as his inclination to learn languages, he could try himself in other areas of activity. Nevertheless, sooner or later, he would knock on the door of painting, because his whole nature is adapted to plastic art. Fate determined for him two homelands – Canada and Ukraine. And only the first ten years were cloudless. Then came the trials that were catastrophically intensifying…
Mykola Bidniak was born on February 1, 1930 in Toronto into the family of political emigrant Petro Bidniak from the Bukovina village of Lenkivtsi, near Chernivtsi. In 1934, he returned with his father to his native Lenkivtsi, and in 1940 they ended up in Germany, fleeing from the “liberators,” where, on a May morning in 1945, while doing slave labor in the fields of Bauer Willy Karl, he lost his hands and injured his eye from a mine explosion.
In 1950, he returned to Canada with his aforementioned parents, Vasyl and Sophia. With God’s help and the help of a Ukrainian patron, Petro Zvarych, he graduated with honors from the Institute of Technology and Art in Calgary (1950-1954). In 1955, he moved to Toronto and entered the third year of fine art at the Ontario College of the Arts “OSA”, which he successfully graduated in two years.
And fate? It sent him trials on all life’s paths – from the fifteenth year of life: loss of hands, loss… and loss! He worthily accepted her severe challenge and won the greatest victory – victory over himself! And, as a true Ukrainian, he once again proved to the world and the boundless spiritual potential, endurance and great courage of his nation, its fantastic talent, high aesthetics. His purpose was to amaze the world with his talent and thirst for creativity. And he created more than three and a half thousand paintings, which are scattered all over the world. It is a pity that there was no one to catalog them. “… we were amazed by the paintings that are his world and life!.. Having lost both hands, he overcomes all difficulties that can only be overcome by the greatest, strongest spirit!.. A talent that paves its own way”… Torontoer Zaitung. 1957. 1957.
Mykola Bidnyak was the first artist and the first foreign citizen to receive a high state award — the Taras Shevchenko State Prize of Ukraine. The first to return it to the needs of Ukrainian culture, the first from the diaspora to become a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, the first among artists to receive the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise and the first among those who returned to their native land in this uncertain time – in 1990, after half a century. He returned at the time of the long-awaited Independence, without fear or hesitation. “The memory of my land, my people, who are so far away and at the same time so close, constantly lives in me.” He returned purposeful and materially sacrificial with a sense of great responsibility and national worldliness: “for what kind of patriots are we if we want to have everything ready?..” His fate is thoroughly intertwined with the fate of Ukraine, the fate of the nation – historically great, with deep roots of spirituality. “I am proud that I have a sworn document, which states: my father took me to Bukovina to learn my native language. Think about it! — My roots are deep in the Ukrainian land, — he told all those interested. — Yes, by a stroke of fate, I was born in Toronto. And here I am before you…”.
The world has long recognized the great talent of Mykola Bidnyak. Ukraine — for the first time! As for the first time, “a great and crazy love, dreamed of, suffered, for a beautiful, wise and proud Woman… What happiness that she is Ukrainian! She became the meaning of his life and creativity”
Ya. Tudorkovetska. Canada… “
And yet the most important thing is a friend who is next to you! Life would be completely different if I didn’t have Maria. She helped me find the meaning of life and returned Ukraine to me! … Odysseus went to his Penelope for more than fifteen years, and I to mine — my whole life… She brought me to this stage … Will I be able to? Will I be able to justify such high trust?”
Receiving the Taras Shevchenko State Prize of Ukraine was the most exciting event in the artist’s life. On March 14, 1995, at a press conference at the Ministry of Culture, words of gratitude were heard: “A profound bow to you for your feat, — accomplished in the name of Ukraine and humanity” (Prof. A. Pogrebennyk), “A new Academy of Arts is opening in your icons…” We congratulate you in your person, the Genius of the Ukrainian people! Glory to you!” (I. Klymko), “Your art is deeply national. Thank God that the Bolsheviks did not conquer Canada and America!” (signature)
The Maestro was extremely moved this time too. Something was pressing on his throat, preventing him from speaking: “This is like a dream for me. I am infinitely grateful, I feel a duty to the land from which my ancestors came. I am happy that I will paint Ukraine. Dear Mario! — he said excitedly, Ukraine is You! Having met you, not only my view, but also the world has changed. You made me think, think differently than I had done before… I am aware… this is my great responsibility to Ukraine, to Taras Shevechenko, who constantly encouraged me to work. How can I justify him and your trust?.. I have never felt such warmth in the attitude towards me and my work anywhere else, as here in Ukraine,” — said the Maestro, moved to tears, — this is also your merit, Mario”. “Ukraine is grateful to God for having such a son,” said Borys Oliynyk at the end of the conference…
On this memorable day, he presented the icon “Our Lady of Chernobyl” to the National Art Museum in Kyiv. “Haydamaki” became the property of the Taras Shevchenko National Museum in Kyiv. “Savior” and “Virgin Mary” are the property of the National Museum in Lviv.
Icon painting is a special page of the artist’s work”… The wonderful deformation of Mykola Bidnyak’s icons, the broken “Virgin Mary”… There has never been anything like this in world painting. He has no equal in modern icon painting, his art is unique both in terms of deep imagery and in terms of the spirituality embedded in it. The East looks at us from the icons with its sophistication of color and balanced deformation… and the sky is also reflected. The sky is new and the sky is eternal…”. “I tried to delve into this mystery… I strive to isolate myself… At first glance, these are standard icons… As for Byzantium, it was based on two-dimensionality, until the Italians came and said that the Eye is the judge of objectivity… I tried to delve into this mystery… I strive to isolate myself…” — he searched for truth and God.
His work is our exciting and unforgettable history. Monumental historical paintings “The Baptism of Ukraine-Rus”, “The Coronation of Danylo Galician”, “Archistrateg Michael”, “Bogun on the Battlefield”… are vivid evidence of the greatness and heroism of the Ukrainian people from the times of Kyivan Rus to the tragedies of the 20th century. From “Svyatoslav the Conqueror” to “King Danil”, to “The Battle of Konotop”, “Hetman Mazepa”, “Heroes of Krut”.., a series of portraits – Hryhoriy Skovoroda, Markiyan Shashkevych, Mykhailo Verbytskyi and Pavlo Chubynskyi, Yuriy Fkdkovych, engraving “Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi”, “Cardinal Joseph the Blind”, “Patriarch Vasyl Lypkivskyi”, “Metropolitan Hilarion Ohienko” and other prominent figures. Mykola Bidnyak has a special dialogue with Taras Shevchenko: “Taras cuts his cross”, “Taras is a prophet and an enlightener”, portraits of Shevchenko and illustrations of his works and, of course, the rebellious “Haydamak” images of “Yarema”, “Gonta”. ” I was thirteenth…” and the triptych “Learn your own…”.
A rather large collection of his works has remained in Ukraine, for which it is worth bowing down to the artist’s wife, whose efforts, this collection was returned to Ukraine. Considering numerous requests, the artist gave more than fifteen paintings to Ukrainian museums for permanent exhibition free of charge. To the museums of Lviv, Kyiv, Chernivtsi, Ternopil, Kanev, Krakow, Przemysl, state institutions and embassies, transferred during exhibitions. To the National Shevchenko Reserve in Kanev, the paintings “Man in the Fire”, “Hetman Ivan Mazepa,” the engraving “Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky”, the graphics “In Unity the Power of Victory”. “Gonta”, landscapes, still lifes, a sculptural portrait of the artist in the Art Museum in Chernivtsi. He also gave them to those who were unable to purchase his works.
Mykola Bidnyak successfully works as a master of stained glass, landscape painter, portrait painter, master of thematic composition in a historical and symbolic key, as well as a talented master of still life. He perfectly owns the brush, makes his painting original and unforgettable, introduces us to the world of orange colors that no one has yet explored… “Angel over Lviv”.
Numerous exhibitions of the artist in museums in Ukraine and abroad have confirmed that the art of Mykola Bidnyak is worthy of admiration and imitation… “an artist from God, a deeply national, subtle colorist, an expert in history and the laws of aesthetics, composition and technology, a confessor of Christian morality, a Ukrainian patriot. The artist is expressive, laconic both in his works and in conversations. When he is impressed by something, he likes it, he will say briefly and aptly: “Famous!” “And, I will say: famous, Mykola! — Academician Emmanuel Mysko, rector of the Academy of Arts in Lviv, expressed himself without unnecessary words.
The artist’s anniversary year (2000) was saturated with exhibitions in Lviv, Sydney, Szczecin, Krakow, Kyiv, and Kaniv. On October 3, 2000, at the National Art Museum in Kyiv, Mykola Bidnyak was honored as a Cavalier of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. This was his great triumph. We were in a hurry to Kaniv. On October 29, 2000, here, in the National Shevchenko Reserve, an exhibition of his works was opened by Volodymyr Ovsiychuk, doctor of art history, professor of the National Academy of Arts in Lviv, author of the book-album “Mykola Bidnyak.” “For everything, one must bow down to the artist’s wife, Maria,” he suddenly said. “This is truly a civic feat of a fragile, courageous woman, whom Providence itself sent to preserve the Artist’s work for future generations…” “Oh, yes! Today I would add more holiness to my Angel,” Mykola answered sublimely. “I wanted to glorify the Woman, the most beautiful, tender and devoted… I believe… I still have hope…”
On Tarasova Gora, I saw the sky differently, as an artist and a patriot, it was here that another vision came and the answer to the revelation: “How should I paint now, Maria?” From Chernecha Gora, Ukraine appeared in all its beauty and grandeur. “Look, Maria, what beauty! Look — the Dnieper… and it is wonderful! Now I know how to paint Ukraine… Here, above the Dnieper, we will build a house-painter… over the water itself. Everything will be different… you will see… and the church of Yura, and Metropolitan Andrey must be different… Now I know!..” — he repeated, as if saying goodbye to Ukraine…
Maria! A legendary woman! Bereginya. A guardian angel, his faithful companion. Everything about her was striking: beauty, a unique voice, ideology, wisdom and pride, courage, and above all — the nobility of the soul, sophistication and delicacy, her kindness and mercy. She became his Hands. The heroic Muse — Maria revealed to the world the indomitability and spiritual greatness of the nation, revealed and returned to Ukraine the brilliant Maestro.
Maria brought him out of oblivion and gave him a wide life, revealed the artist, returned him to Ukraine, and inspired new creativity that spoke with powerful patriotism.
“In the life of Mykola Bidnyak, the role of Mrs. Maria is invaluable, because she made Mykola live and create for the whole planet and saved him from oblivion. Great respect to you and your sons Taras and Ostap, who were always there to help. How humane it is in the world that people sent by God always help and reveal genius. Goodness and happiness to you and a low bow. separately for the book-album “Mykola Bidnyak”, which was published thanks to your good will. I bow before your divine kindness and sincere heart…”.
Volodymyr Ovsiychuk, professor, doctor of art history
Taras Maychyk for the book
“Mykola Bidnyak”
