Orthodox

Painted partly in metallic oils the Russian Orthodox revival is on display, but this is no altarpiece. The Patriarch lights a candle among a seething hierarchy and a bickering congregation. Monks chant in the bell tower and the walls are clad with ornate icons. Men fight for their fill of 'holy water', and an old believer rekindles 18th century disputes. The Patriarch's hand twists the candle with an exaggerated back hand motion, a hint of his shady past. This painting won the University of Chichester award in the UK National Open Art Competition in 2012.