Khlibnia unites generations of Ukrainian art

The event is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of this highest state art award in Ukraine. The prize was founded in 1961, but the first time an artist received it was in 1964. It was Vasyl Kasian, who had been working on creating Shevchenko-themed posters and portraits for years and had illustrated five editions of Kobzar.

Over all the years of the prize’s existence the list of Shevchenko laureates has comprised more than 500 people and groups. Among them there are 60 distingiushed masters of decorative applied art, fine art, and folk art. Over the recent five decades, the prize was awarded to Maria Prymachenko, Serhii Shyshko, Ivan Marchuk, Tetiana Yablonska, Mykola Maksymenko, Serhii Yakutovych, Valerii Franchuk, Volodymyr Mykyta and many other artists whose creative work was recognized an outstanding phenomenon in domestic art. This year the prize-winning works are displayed at the Sofia Kyivska exhibit hall, Khlibnia.

“Making an exhibit of laureates’ works can become a good tradition,” said artist Serhii YAKUTOVYCH, himself a Taras Shevchenko award winner, in his interview to The Day. “And as regards the rating criteria of works by the Shevchenko committee, they have been different in different years. In Soviet time those who acted according to the instructions (write-this-paint-that) were awarded. That is why I think I first received the award only in 2004. Nowadays you are free to paint what you wish, but there is no guarantee you will get recognition. And also one of the artists present at the inauguration admitted that only now the words ‘National Award laureate’ sound so prestigious. At the time when he was awarded, he just went and bought himself a pair of shoes.”

The exhibit includes works from various museums: the National Art Museum of Ukraine, National Center of Business and Culture Cooperation Ukrainian Home, the Taras Shevchenko National Museum, the Cherkasy Art Museum, the Museum of Books and Book Printing of Ukraine, the Ivan Honchar Museum, and the National Artists Association of Ukraine.

And though it was possible to display only one painting per author in two tiny halls, this is a priceless collection in terms of artistic value, which is rarely to be seen under one roof. So hurry up to see Khlibnia, otherwise you will need to go to at least seven museums around the country. The exhibit is open till November 27.