Ichtys was the symbol of Christianity in times when you had to hide your religion because of fear of being killed. In this photo project it is used as a metaphor for something you believe in which you cannot see but you can find the signs of in your surrounding and read them with your heart and soul.
This project consists of series of interviews with women and photographs of them with different fish. The portraiture is intended to be iconic, with simplicity of the materials and gestures. The artist - Silvena - believes that the feminine nature is closer to the symbolics of water. Moreover in the majority of her photography the muse is a woman, the feminine sensitivity and gentle expression of feelings is what inspires her. So in a way this project is very different than what the narrative about spirituality has been in the past as the main characters are women rather than men.
*The Ichthys or ichthus, from the Greek ikhthýs (ἰχθύς, “fish”), is a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish. It was used by early Christians as a secret Christian symbol and now known colloquially as the “sign of the fish” or the “Jesus fish.” ΙΧΘΥΣ (Ichthus) is an acronym/acrostic for “Ίησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ”, (Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr), which translates into English as “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour”. Fish are mentioned and given symbolic meaning several times in the Gospels. Several of Jesus’ twelve Apostles were fishermen. He commissions them with the words “I will make you fishers of men”.
The Exhibition has now finished but some of the artworks and the Ichtys book are still available to purchase. Feel free to drop me a line if you are interested.
