Clay and our identity

Clay is a simple but at the same time a very mysterious material. It has accompanied the human race for thousands of years. Nowadays people buy ceramics to meet their esthetic needs or for everyday use. Some do this because of the subconscious need to “communicate” with clay, others see the purpose of their lives in making earthenware, while still others research ceramics in a scientific way. Because there are different groups of people who are interested in clay, the ceramics studies and pottery will live forever — as long as there is humankind.

The first national Short Academic Dictionary of Modern Ukrainian Ceramics Studies was recently launched in the National Culture Center “Ivan Honchar Museum.” It was published thanks to the National Academy of Sciences, Ukraine’s Institute of Ceramology, Opishnia’s National Ukrainian Pottery Museum-Preserve, and Ukraine’s Ministry for Tourism and Culture. The researchers of Ukrainian ceramics also spoke on the next issue of the national annual periodical Bibliography of Ukrainian Pottery, which, according to experts, has no analogs in the world, and the first edition of the souvenir mini-catalogue of postcards entitled Havrylo and Yevdokha Poshyvailo’s Ethnic Ceramics.

This Ukrainian couple from Opishnia have worldwide renown because through their everyday work with clay, which has helped them financially, they have been making our country’s history. It is fitting that the town where they were born has become the pottery capital of Ukraine. Due to their efforts the National Ukrainian Pottery Museum-Preserve was established in Opishnia several years ago. It is a scientific establishment that has become a leading ceramics studies center in Central and Eastern Europe.

“The book Havrylo and Yevdokha Poshyvailo’s Ethnic Ceramics will be the first one in the series Treasures of Ukrainian Art. We have plans to present in a similar way Ukrainian pysanky (painted Easter eggs), embroidery, and clothes. Later we would like to continue our efforts by creating the series Treasures of Traditional Cultures of the World. This is a very sustainable project, and the book is very easy to use. It will enable us to present the cultural objects that people do not get to see in exposition halls, because it is impossible to put all of them on the display. Many of these objects are kept in storage facilities and there is no real possibility to organize an exposition of them all,” said Ihor Poshyvailo, Havrylo and Yavdokha’s grandson.

Ceramologists say that the masters in this field of folk art are born to be potters and are thinking in terms of clay. Researchers have been gathering the precious crumbs of information on them, because not so long ago research into the national culture was not welcome. Experts also say that Ihor and Oleh Poshyvailo, grandchildren of the famous potters, have provided this art with a high symbolic import, something that has never been done before. Together with scientists they research the European art of ceramics art and acquaint themselves with pottery legacy of other countries. They have come to a conclusion that what the modern generation of Ukrainians have received is far more powerful.

“It is very important to provide support to what is being done in Opishnia and maintain the tradition. I am proud of Ukrainians, although we are going through some difficult times — somehow we always have struggles. We also have to fight for what belongs to us. But struggle imposes responsibility, and, at the same time, mobilizes. Unfortunately it is a paradoxical situation that we have to fight for Ukraine in our own country. It is my conviction that a nation that cares about maintaining its traditions through the years and adding more and more new things to it, has, no doubt, a great future. We are one of the few nations in Europe that, despite the difficulties, have a great spiritual power of folk art. We actually live in artistic environment because many of these objects are fit for everyday use,” said Academician Mykola Zhulynsky, head of the Taras Shevchenko Institute of Literature.

Ceramics is an art that gives Ukraine a chance to keep its originality despite the pressure of globalization and unification. It has long been believed in Europe that the only way to preserve an ethnos is to maintain a national image of the country and its culture, which has to rest on traditions.

We wish to believe that Ukrainian traditions, pottery in particular, will always ensure Ukraine’s special and unique character. This hope is boosted by the efforts of Academician Borys Paton, President of Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, Academician Anatolii Shpak, First Vice President of Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, Academician and Hero of Ukraine Ivan Dziuba, and other champions of Ukrainian science.