Isachev is russian contemporary artists.

Images and symbols of Isachev of russian contemporary artists.

The persistence with which Isachev "populated" the canvases with fish and snakes suggests that for him they were not just an elegant decorative, ornamental element, but certain signs. Both images are important symbols in a variety of cultures, and both are ambivalent, have both negative and positive semantics The fish, on the one hand, is a servant of the Egyptian EVIL god Set and the biblical demon Asmodeus. But in many cultures it symbolizes the same fertility, reproduction of life and resurrection. The fish is the embodiment of the Hindu gods Brahma and Vishnu (Matsya), and in Christianity, as you know, it is primarily a symbol of Jesus. In alchemy, the fish represents a mystical rebirth. The snake, as well as the fish, symbolizes reincarnation and immortality, healing powers (and therefore is the emblem of the god Asclepius, or Aesculapius), fertility (the Egyptian snake-headed goddess Renenutet). The snake is one of the sacred creatures of Athena, or Minerva — the goddess of wisdom, arts and crafts. In Hinduism and Buddhism, immortal naga snakes are the rulers of the underworld, capable of reviving the dead. In the Christian tradition, the image of a snake has predominantly negative connotations, personifying treachery and, of course, temptation. Although not everything is so clear here either: let us recall the copper serpent that helped Moses to lead the Jewish people through the desert, and later became a symbol of resurrection ("And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life"). Isachev's triptych "Baptism". Despite the fact that the artist depicts a Christian rite, Orthodox attributes are pushed to the periphery of the canvas. The figure of the priest in the central part of the triptych seems to be "lost" at all, dissolves into the background. Of all the people depicted, only two babies look at the priest. The gaze of the rest is directed in other directions: someone looks into the distance, someone looks at the viewer, the eyes of others are lowered, some are covered, they are open, they seem to be looking inside themselves. The scene of baptism is overshadowed by God. But is it Jesus? His face is depicted as if in accordance with the Christian iconographic tradition. It does not contradict the canon (although it is not so often found on icons) and gold, jeweled vestments: a crown resembling a royal crown or patriarchal mitre, and a luxurious shoulder strap. This is an iconographic type of image of the Savior, called the "King of Kings" or "Great Bishop". And at the same time, these rich decorations remind us of Hindu and Buddhist deities. Of course, the similarity is enhanced by the fact that the halo above the head of the God is complemented by the image of a lotus, These flowers can also be seen in a luxurious floral garland, from which — instead of a cloud - the figure of God rises. The lotus was revered in ancient times Egypt, where he was an attribute of Osiris, Horus and Isis, and in Hinduism and Buddhism he became a sacred symbol of creative, creative forces, purity and perfection. Existing simultaneously in three spheres — in water, on earth and in the air — the lotus is a model of the universe, as well as the triplicity of human nature, the unity of material, spiritual and intellectual principles. Isachev's painting depicts a seven—petalled lotus - a flower of this shape symbolizes the seven heavens, seven planets, seven stages of transformation, the hands of God are raised, the thumb and ring finger are crossed. At first glance, this nominative signification is a Christian gesture of blessing that makes up the monogram of the name of Jesus Christ. But the fact that this gesture in the picture is performed with both hands resembles, rather, the mudra — Hindu and Buddhist ritual "finger language". As we see, Isachev understood the postulate that "God is one" even more broadly than is usually accepted.