Ukraine and Ukrainians. Chernihiv region

Chernihiv Polissia is a unique region of Slavic world. Researchers have always had interest in this area and wrote their studies defining Chernihiv region as one of the natural habitats of the former homeland of the Slavs. Ancient archaic layers of Proto-Slavic culture, whose roots date back to the Palaeolithic and Neolithic age were preserved in Chernihiv region.

Natural wealth of Chernihiv land facilitated development of various folk crafts and individual work of artists.

Woven and embroidered fabrics for clothing and interior were presented at the exhibition “Ethnographic Region of Chernihiv,” which recently opened in Ivan Honchar Museum. There is also a comprehensive presentation of classic examples of national dress, worn in mid 19th to the early 20th century in Kozelets, Chernihiv, Horodianka, Shchors, Semenivka, Sosnytsia, Novhorod-Siversky, Nizhyn, and Nosivka raions of Chernihiv oblast. The clothing is made mainly of handmade materials and can be distinguished for its unique coloring with predominance of white and red. There are presented cloth skirts, plakhtas, wraparound skirts, belts and kraikas, colorful kerchiefs and headbands, vests and jewelry.

In addition to cloth exhibits visitors will be able to see woodwork, bowls woven of bark, twigs, and straw, work of potters and blacksmiths, as well as icons of a unique “Chernihiv-style” painting from late 19th and early 20th century, folk paintings of the first half of the 20th century, painting and sculptural works of folk genius of Anton Shtepa from the village of Svarychivka, Ichnia raion.

Ethnographic part of the exhibition is supplemented with unique archival photographs from the historic and ethnographic art album compiled by Ivan Honchar “Ukraine and Ukrainians” and private collections of Volodymyr Shchybria and Ihor Perevertniuk.