In the exquisite artworks of Maksym Kerub, the breath of millennia lives on. As a modern-day alchemist, the master transforms the radiance of silver, fusing it with the fire of enamel, into priceless treasures that carry echoes of Byzantine grandeur. Each piece is a dialogue between past and present, where tradition intertwines with the artist’s individuality. Kerub doesn’t merely reproduce the ancient technique of cloisonné enamel, but gives it a new sound, creating contemporary sacred artifacts filled with deep symbolism and beauty.
Moreover, this distinguished domestic master, of world-class stature, has proven that traditional jewelry art can be both modern and relevant. Indeed, every detail, every color of enamel, is the result of painstaking and persistent labor and a deep understanding of the material. Kerub’s works are not merely adornments but true masterpieces that impress with their perfection and refinement, where matter transforms into spirituality. Each piece is a prayer addressed to eternity.
Maksym skillfully uses the language of symbols and images to convey profound religious and philosophical ideas. His works are unique amulets that carry within them the power and energy of life.
For instance, in the series «Byzantine Icons», the artist turns to the imagery of iconography characteristic of the period of the flourishing of the hot enamel technique in the Christian Empire 12th-13th centuries. Thus, the creativity of Maksym Kerub is a continuation of the traditions of the outstanding masters of Byzantium, which has become a real breakthrough in Ukrainian jewelry art, activating the creative impulse of a new generation of masters.
© PhD Alexandra Barbalat
Art historian-expert,
Member of the National Committee
of the International Association of Fine Arts
(UNESCO NGO partner).
