OLASHYN VASYL

Laureate of the Regional Prize named after Y. Bokshai and A. Erdeli (2006), member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine (1977)

He was born in Horinchevo village, Khust district. In 1964, he graduated from the department of art wood of the Uzhhorod School of Applied Arts. His teachers were I. Harapko and M. Popovych. He continued his studies in Kyiv. In 1984, he graduated from the sculpture department of the Kyiv State Art Institute, were his teachers were V. Borodai, V. Borysenko and I. Makohon.

Vasyl Olashyn works in the genre of the easel and monumental sculptures. He created the monuments of famous historical personalities, public figures. His favourite themes are motherhood, eternal feelings, which he embodies in petty plastic. The artist thoroughly feels all the surrounding events, analyses them, and they often encourage the birth of new ideas.

As noted by the art historians, numerous works of Vasyl Olashyn are characterized by a certain simplification of forms, stylization, the active use of elements of the Christian symbolism, which contribute to a profound disclosure of the idea. The author does not try to copy the reality, but to create a new one. He admits that his understanding of sculpture is a generalization of forms, revealing of the themes by plastic means, composition. "Sculpture is the most silent and at the same time the most expressive type of art, therefore, it needs efficiency and professionalism," the author says. Working on each new idea, the artist studies the subject for a long time and from all sides: "When I undertake any work, I collect all the material made before me and everything that can be found."

So it was with one of the most famous works of the artist – the bronze sculpture of Prince Fedir Koriatovych, located in the Mukachevo castle "Palanok". "I worked on it (sculpture) very meticulously because it was necessary to respect the historical truth in the depicting face and clothing, Vasyl Olashyn recalls. When the preparations of the sculpture were almost ready, it was born the idea that Koriatovych would point his finger down, as if to say: "We are the owners here". When the sculpture was installed in the castle, together with its director I invented a legend: if you hold the Prince Koriatovych's finger, you will be lucky in life. This fairy-tale became popular among tourists, and now the finger of Koriatovych shines like being polished."

Participant in art exhibitions: regional – since 1969, all-Ukrainian - since 1971, foreign - since 1974.