Rich Decorative Palette

Kyivans can now take a look at the surrounding world through the prism of art and past realities after visiting the exhibit called Decorative Art of the Peoples of the World (see photo), opened at the Ukrainian House April 13.

Nina Sayenko, curator of exhibition and Meritorious Worker in the Arts of Ukraine, says that “there is a special tradition whereby every artist exhibiting his works at the Ukrainian House leaves some of the works as a memento. Thus we have our own collection growing in size, gaining in scope and meaning. Over the past several years we have gathered a lot of most interesting items from exhibits.” The current display boasts some sixty pieces dating from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, representing fifteen countries, including tapestries, towels, porcelain china, cut glass, silver, leather, and gem decorations.

The Baranivka Factory contributed porcelain works kept in the best Ukrainian folk tradition. Other items interesting in terms of both form and ornament are from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Latvia, Poland, Germany, and Russia. Versatile cut-glass ornaments belong to Ukrainian designers Lidia Mytteva and Volodymyr Henshke, their Belarusian, Czech, and Slovak counterparts (featuring original shapes, colors, shades, and techniques); metal and silver works by V. Semenova and V. Savinkova (e.g., a tray and a goblet portraying St. Michael, dating from 1892); silver engravings and filigree wood and ivory works contributed by Dagestan’s Untskul Factory; other works come from Poland, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Germany, and Bulgaria.

Folk paintings constitute a major section of the display, including works by Marfa Tymchenko, Ukraine’s and world’s acknowledged decorative artist, holder of the prestigious title, People’s Artist of Ukraine, and winner of the Taras Shevchenko State Prize. After the exhibit she left the Ukrainian House the best of her works. The exhibit is scheduled to nemain open until May 2.