Photo art as a means of consolidation

Spiritual and aesthetic “measure of things” as part of creative world outlook of Vasyl Pylypiuk, a renowned master of fine-art photo, editor and publisher, professor of the Lviv-based Art Academy, winner of Ukraine’s National Taras Shevchenko Prize and prestigious international awards in the sphere of photo art, has become more available for the numerous guests his native village of Novoselytsia, Sniatyn raion, Ivano-Frankivsk oblast, where the artist’s benefit exhibition was held.

The official reason, the 45th anniversary of artistic activity, became for the well-known Pokuttia resident an occasion to gather his fellow villagers and friends near his home yard and his school, in order to go through an important moral exam. All the guests, who responded to his call, felt the importance of the event, above all with their hearts.

The hall of Novoselytsia People’s House, which from now on will be named after Vasyl Pylypiuk, became for a while an emotional center of this beautiful corner of Pokuttia. The lobby displayed the exhibit of works, selected from the author’s rich photographic oeuvre, and a festive installation was placed on the stage. In the speeches of the guests, from the village chairman and school headmaster to guests from Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Kyiv, the format of Vasyl Pylypiuk as individuality and “an institution-man” was revealed.

Presented Bio-Bibliographic Index, as well as the book Artist of National Photo, and the photo album Lviv, Shone by Heavens (85th volume of the author!) became a kind of a navigator over Pylypiuk’s broad field of activity. Over 2,500 names of works (photo albums, travel guides, and monographs), articles, interviews, publications of photos, reviews of his works, references in the press and Internet resources are just a statistical option of measuring Pylypiuk’s contribution to present-day Ukrainian culture.

Rector of the National Forestry University of Ukraine Yurii Tunytsia, Rector of Ukrainian Academy of Printing Bohdan Durniak, Head of Lviv Oblast Organization of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine Yaroslav Klymovych, Head of the Lviv Oblast Organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine Oleh Mykyta, deputy head on pedagogical work of Petro Sahaidachny Academy of Land Forces, Colonel Yurii Husar spoke about the rich content of his creative work and his organizational efforts.

During the congratulation speeches it was announced that Vasyl Pylypiuk is getting new honorable awards, specifically the artist will be awarded with the Lviv Golden Coat of Arms by Lviv’s administration and the title of the Honorable Doctor of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachny Academy of Land Forces.

But these, a kind of report, points of the program did not get too official thanks to the host, People’s Artist of Ukraine, actor of the Lviv-based Zankovetska Theater Yevhen Fedorchenko, who pliably changed the official tonality of the speakers into the language of witty joke and music art. Ukrainian variety stars, such as people’s artistes Vasyl Zinkevych and Ivan Popovych, Merited Artist of Ukraine Oleh Kulchytsky, came to support their friend. Folk melodies in modern interpretation, as well as song masterpieces of Oleksandr Bilash, Volodymyr Ivasiuk, and other composers, created a special unique atmosphere of high art with an accentuated national spiritual richness. The audience rose to its feet, singing unanimously “Two Colors,” “Red Rue,” and other symbolical works of singing culture of the second half of the 20th century, in a special feeling of unity and eternity of spiritual-value imperative of the Nation in present-day reality.

Vasyl Pylypiuk’s benefit exhibit proved once again that art, near to language, religion, and the entire complex of traditions, will continue to be an efficient means of nationwide consolidation, as well as a resource which defines the state prospect of Ukraine in the circle of other cultures and states of Europe and the world.

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The Day decided to ask the photo artist about his feelings, connected with understanding of this respectful date, 45th anniversary of creative activity. But it turned to be a hard thing to do: Vasyl Pylypiuk did not answer his landline phone for several days, and his cell phone was out of range. When The Day’s journalist finally reached Pylypiuk, he replied:

“I am sorry, I cannot speak now. I am on my way, I cannot hear well enough. Please, call me in about two hours, when we get to Moryntsi,” the voice is pleasantly anxious, which means that Pylypiuk, a hundred of times recognized and merited person, is amidst working process again, in spite of his anniversary. “But I’m not sure that we will talk there either: the signal is bad there, too.”

The interview did take place, albeit it was a short one. The master is positively pressed in time.

“I am far away from my home village, in Cherkasy region, in Moryntsi, where our dear Taras Hryhorovych was born. I am working on the tenth volume of Personality. Devoted to Shevchenko. I have been to Zvenyhorodka and Kyrylivka [since 1929 village Shevchenkove. – Ed.]. I plan to visit Kaniv, Kyiv, Poltava, and every place Shevchenko visited,” Vasyl Pylypiuk says.

Who’s going to prepare the text material?

“Deputy Head of the Historical Cultural Preserve ‘Taras Shevchenko’s Homeland’ Liudmyla Mykhailivna Shevchenko, who with pleasure volunteered to work when she felt my mood. You know, I am not just preparing a set of illustrations for this book. My soul and heart will speak with photo metaphors. All Ukrainian libraries will get this book on December 1. This is a state order.”

You have 45 years of experience in creative work which requires considerable strength, energy, speed of reaction, sleepless nights, and moves. Haven’t you gotten tired of this rhythm?

“It has happened so. When I was nine years old, I took a camera, and ever since I have been living with artistic projects. My 87th book has been published recently. I must have beaten Ukraine’s record long ago. And, maybe, the Guinness Records either. But I want to continue working, because ahead, after Shevchenko, there will be Lesia Ukrainka, big volume My Ukraine, Kyiv, Lviv in four volumes, seasons of the year, Summer, Autumn, Spring, and Winter. I have plenty of work to do, if God gives me health.”

You have managed to transmit your creative vigor and love to the profession to your son.

“When my son was born, I wanted him very much to follow in my footsteps. Unfortunately, Volodia did not care a bit about photography till the 10th form. In 2004 I took him, a student of the 11th form, to the Orange Revolution. We spent twelve days in the Maidan, and he became fond of making photos, and when he got cash reward for this… After school he entered and successfully graduated from the Academy of Printing, and now he is a postgraduate student. He is working on his thesis and he has published several books as my coauthor. The greatest reward from God is that my son continues to follow my career.”

When did you open your gallery?

“In 2006. And in 2009 I held the 1st Worldwide Salon of Artistic Photography ‘Light and Shadow,’ which drew 400 authors from 50 countries of the world. Unfortunately, the salon has not been operating for three years, but next year we will renew it and make it regular.”

What do you recall most often, when you have a free minute?

“As I have already said in some interview, ‘it is harder to remain young with each year passing.’ As for the reminiscences, I recall most frequently my native village Novoselytsia, where I was born, native Transcarpathia, Pokuttia. They excite me, disturb my rest. I have published another book about Novoselytsia on the Rybnytsia River, and at the moment I am working on the book about Pokuttia, so that the region had its own photo album. Of course, I recall my school friends, memorable evenings in my native school. I have perfectly clear memories of the Franko University, from which I graduated (Journalism Department) in 1974. There are many reminiscences, which excite and arouse my soul, but it is a very much pleasant thing. I have no rest!”

In your opinion, why will, to all appearances, photography continue to live, both colored and vintage black-and-white?

“I think no Internet with its newest technologies will substitute paper books and photography. As for the photos, every shot, printed today, will be a great memory even decades later. I have even written the monograph Ukrainian fine-art photography. Stages of establishment and artistic foundations of development, which present its development since 1839 till present day. I am sure: when photography (reporting, sketching, portraying) gives way to fine-art photography, this is already a real artistic work. Ukrainians are very talented in making photos. There are a lot of well-known Ukrainian photo masters in the world: no international exhibit can do without their participation. But Lviv residents’ mastery is especially amazing: they won gold, silver, and bronze awards almost at all exhibitions. And this is very gratifying. Incidentally, my gallery is always open for photo masters, where they have an opportunity both to rest, and organize exhibitions, and all this is free of charge. So, I am doing what I can for the National Union of Photo Artist.”

In the context of the previous question, what can you say about the role of photography in The Day?

“I don’t want to praise you. But I will admit right away that no other Ukrainian periodical has such a high understanding of photography as a beautiful kind of art. So, in these terms, I place your newspaper on the first place. Besides, only The Day is holding in Ukraine an international salon, Den’s Photo Exhibit. I have been subscribing to The Day for the gallery for years, and I buy it to take home, read every issue, and of course I feast my eyes on the wonderful illustrative material. I thank Larysa Ivshyna for the rich content of the periodical, and especially for support of development of photography as an art in Ukraine.”