NEO-PAGANISM IN MODERN VISUAL ART IN THE CASE OF A.A. OSIPOVA'S LIFE-CREATION

The article studies the interaction of neo-paganism and visual art by the example of life-creation of Anna Afanasyeva Osipova, who works with archeoart and magical realism. Her art has not previously been the subject of special research, but its analysis contributes to understanding the artistic thinking of early XXI century in Russian regions ( in particular, the specifics of Siberia and Far East) and the country as a whole, the peculiarities of art and neopaganism ideas interaction, the principles of incorporation of neo-paganism into artistic culture. The study of the artist's works and interviews with the help of biographical method, socio-cultural and axiological approaches, introduction of concept of "artistic nomadism" had brought to following conclusions. The interaction of visual art and neo-paganism can be described through the concept of "artistic nomadism", which means the author's way of artistic practice linked with a permanent change in search of artistic "ego" and a sense of belonging. Neo-paganism comes from a nomadic search for a different identity in the ethnic past or universal archaic, non-recognition of boundaries and hierarchy, the combination of indigenization and universalism, free interpretation of tradition. A.A. Osipova represents in her work a type of neo-paganism, defined as eclectic universalism. Such an existence in the artistic world is akin to lifecreating principle implemented by A.A. Osipova in fluctuations between the postmodern game and a sincere search for a Home. Archeoart and magical realism proved to be able to reflect this worldview. The nomadic thinking reflects in semantic infinity of immanent images and compositions. Osipova's visual art displays the new attitude to meaning and semantic determinacy: semiosis turns into process of free signification at the stages of both creation and perception of artistic utterance, thus creating an unlimited number of meanings. Neo-paganism and archaic art as forms of incorporation the archaic into modern culture are close phenomena, but not related originally. Both of them are the consequences of person's disillusionment with industrial and post-industrial civilization values and ideals that was repeatedly observed throughout the XIX-XX centuries. The "alternative spirituality" trend at the turn of XX-XXI centuries was perceived by A.A. Osipova and implemented in artistic practice. The revival of archetype in art is one of the possible intellectual and creative ways of self-organization of artistic activity subject in the context of cultural rhizome, which is not necessarily associated with the archaization of consciousness. Rhizomatic being stimulates the processes of self-organization and generates the alternative structure of sensations and new discourse in art, represented by the synthesis of traditional and modern and forms a new sincerity as opposed to postmodern irony.