Leonid Denysenko
Encyclopedia
Leonid Denysenko is an Australian artist of Ukrainian
descent living in Sydney
, Australia
. He is notable for the introduction of the graphic art technique of "literography". He is the only surviving founding member of the Ukrainian Artists Society of Australia
.
in 1926 of Ukrainian émigré
parents, Leonid studied art
in Poland
. After World War II
he worked as an artist with the United States armed forces
in Germany.
After arriving in Australia in 1949 with his family, he was sent to a migrant reception and training Centre camp at Bathurst
, NSW. As part of the 'assisted passage' Leonid and his brother, Yurij were under a contract to the Australian Government to work where the Government sent them, and the two young men learnt they were to be sent to Queensland as sugar cane cutters. As related by Leonid himself in a 2-page article in the Australian Women's Weekly
:
In time, the Denysenkos left the camp and Leonid with his mother and brother Yurij, helped stage a number of Ukrainian arts and craft shows in Australia. By 1950 Leonid Denysenko was already being featured in Australian media as a "migrant artist from Ukraine", and "a young Ukrainian whose pen-and- ink work is much above the ordinary".
Leonid completed the necessary examinations which allowed him to teach art in secondary and high schools and his varied career saw him work as a stage and set designer
for the theatre and films, a cartoonist
and illustrator
of books and periodicals, a stamp designer, a leading dancer in a ballet
company, an art teacher and principal and a freelance journalist.
He holds a Degree in Graphic Art
, a Certificate in Education and a Diploma
in Fine Arts.
. Denysenko's pen-and-ink sketches of Australian towns visited during the exhibition's tour were also part of the show. This touring exhibition visited capital cities and towns in all the States of Australia
, including Queensland and Tasmania.
"God is Love
", which features an image of Jesus Christ using letters of the word Love written in 79 different languages.
In December 1955, the Australian Department of Immigration announced a public competition to obtain designs for a suitable stamp about migration. Designs also were sought from a further 10 artists and designers including from Leonid Denysenko. About 300 entries were received.
Despite the great response to the competition and much discussion, a stamp on the theme of migration was never issued. Instead, the Department of Immigration used many of the entries in its touring immigration and citizenship promotional displays. In 1989 the two entries by Denysenko were featured in an exhibition of these "forgotten works" at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
Together with his brother Jurij, an architect, Leonid won a competition for the design of the International Monument in Fairfield
in Western Sydney, that celebrates migration and the multi-ethnic community in that local government area.
Denysenko's designed the mosaic
s adorning the church at the Ukrainian Orthodox Centre in Canberra
.
, and Ukraine
, and his work "God is Love" has featured in many exhibitions throughout Australia.
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
descent living in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He is notable for the introduction of the graphic art technique of "literography". He is the only surviving founding member of the Ukrainian Artists Society of Australia
Ukrainian Artists Society of Australia
The Ukrainian Artists Society of Australia was founded in 1967 and was particularly active from the 1960s to the 1970s. As well as the national body, there were a number of other chapters founded in the other Australian states, however, the NSW chapter of the Society, using the acronym СУОМА —...
.
Biography and career
Born in WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
in 1926 of Ukrainian émigré
Émigré
Émigré is a French term that literally refers to a person who has "migrated out", but often carries a connotation of politico-social self-exile....
parents, Leonid studied art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he worked as an artist with the United States armed forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
in Germany.
After arriving in Australia in 1949 with his family, he was sent to a migrant reception and training Centre camp at Bathurst
Bathurst
-Places:In Australia:* Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia and the following things associated with the city** Bathurst Regional Council, the local government area for the Bathurst urban area and rural surrounds...
, NSW. As part of the 'assisted passage' Leonid and his brother, Yurij were under a contract to the Australian Government to work where the Government sent them, and the two young men learnt they were to be sent to Queensland as sugar cane cutters. As related by Leonid himself in a 2-page article in the Australian Women's Weekly
Australian Women's Weekly
The Australian Women's Weekly is an Australian monthly women's magazine published by ACP Magazines, a division of PBL Media based in Sydney. Audited circulation in 2009 exceeded 500,000 copies monthly, making it the largest magazine in Australia.-History:...
:
In time, the Denysenkos left the camp and Leonid with his mother and brother Yurij, helped stage a number of Ukrainian arts and craft shows in Australia. By 1950 Leonid Denysenko was already being featured in Australian media as a "migrant artist from Ukraine", and "a young Ukrainian whose pen-and- ink work is much above the ordinary".
Leonid completed the necessary examinations which allowed him to teach art in secondary and high schools and his varied career saw him work as a stage and set designer
Scenic design
Scenic design is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. Scenic designers have traditionally come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but nowadays, generally speaking, they are trained professionals, often with M.F.A...
for the theatre and films, a cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
of books and periodicals, a stamp designer, a leading dancer in a ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
company, an art teacher and principal and a freelance journalist.
He holds a Degree in Graphic Art
Graphic arts
A type of fine art, graphic art covers a broad range of art forms. Graphic art is typically two-dimensional and includes calligraphy, photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, lithography, typography, serigraphy , and bindery. Graphic art also consists of drawn plans and layouts for interior...
, a Certificate in Education and a Diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
in Fine Arts.
Commonwealth Jubilee Exhibition of New Australian Arts and Crafts
In 1951 Leonid Denysenko was chosen to be in charge of the New Australian Arts and Crafts Exhibition, which was part of the celebrations for the Jubilee of Australia's FederationFederation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
. Denysenko's pen-and-ink sketches of Australian towns visited during the exhibition's tour were also part of the show. This touring exhibition visited capital cities and towns in all the States of Australia
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
, including Queensland and Tasmania.
Works
Leonid Denysenko pioneered a new graphic art technique called "literography", which uses letters from words to form detailed pictures. His most famous work is the iconIcon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
"God is Love
God Is Love
God Is Love is an album by Dave Fitzgerald. Released in 2004, it is the latest release from flute and saxophone player from this founding member of Iona.-Track listing:# "Opening"# "Ubi Caritas"# "God So Loved"# "Love"# "Agnus Dei"# "Ma Navu"...
", which features an image of Jesus Christ using letters of the word Love written in 79 different languages.
In December 1955, the Australian Department of Immigration announced a public competition to obtain designs for a suitable stamp about migration. Designs also were sought from a further 10 artists and designers including from Leonid Denysenko. About 300 entries were received.
Despite the great response to the competition and much discussion, a stamp on the theme of migration was never issued. Instead, the Department of Immigration used many of the entries in its touring immigration and citizenship promotional displays. In 1989 the two entries by Denysenko were featured in an exhibition of these "forgotten works" at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
Together with his brother Jurij, an architect, Leonid won a competition for the design of the International Monument in Fairfield
Fairfield, New South Wales
Fairfield is a western suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Fairfield is located 29 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Fairfield and is also partly in the local government...
in Western Sydney, that celebrates migration and the multi-ethnic community in that local government area.
Denysenko's designed the mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
s adorning the church at the Ukrainian Orthodox Centre in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
Exhibitions
Leonid Denysenko has exhibited in group exhibitions of the Ukrainian Artists Society of Australia in both AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and his work "God is Love" has featured in many exhibitions throughout Australia.
Group exhibitions
- 1973 — International Eucharistic Congress — Arts Festival, Exhibition Building, MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, 15–25 February 1973 - 2001 — "Devotion: the Religious, the Domestic and the Pacific", Casula PowerhouseCasula PowerhouseThe Casula Powerhouse is located in Casula, New South Wales, Australia, on the banks of the George's River within the City of Liverpool. Formerly a 1950s power station, Casula Powerhouse has become a contemporary multi-arts facility and quickly established itself as a leading community cultural...
Arts Centre], 12 September – 18 October 2001 - 2010 — "Text as Spiritual Imagery" Exhibition, McGlade Gallery, StrathfieldStrathfield, New South WalesStrathfield is an Inner West suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Strathfield is located 14 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield...
, September – October 2010