Fragment of the Frieze 'Aviation Brings People Together' in the Interior of Boryspil Airport 1965

This fragment of Valerii Lamakh’s frieze at Boryspil Airport uses mosaic to depict faces framed by potent symbols. On the right, a halo encircles a figure, reminiscent of Byzantine religious icons, signifying divinity or importance, while on the left we see an ambiguous symbol of divinity. The five-pointed star at the center evokes both celestial navigation and, in a different context, socialist ideology. The halo, seen in countless depictions of saints and deities across cultures, marks a person as sacred, bridging ancient traditions with modern aspirations. The star, in contrast, can be seen as a symbol of guidance or ideological alignment. Such visual motifs have a non-linear progression. They resurface and evolve, acquiring new layers of meaning depending on their cultural and historical context. Here, the psychological impact lies in the blend of the sacred with the modern, engaging viewers with themes of faith, guidance, and the collective subconscious desire for connectivity.