On a visit to Kotyhoroshko

The folklore characters have been recreated by the organizers of the project “In a land that never was in a time that could never be.” The main part of the exhibit is presented by two-meter-high paper models of Ukrainian fairytales. Every composition consists of over 5,000 details. A total of 200 square meters of cardboard have been used for Kotyhoroshko, Pan Kotsky, Ivasyk-Telesyk, The Ear of Wheat, and A Lame Duck. The hero that is the largest in size is the model of the Loud-Voiced Rooster, which is over one meter high. The smallest character is Merry Worm, which is only two centimeters long.

“We have called the exhibit ‘In a land that never was in a time that could never be,’ because this is one of the traditional openings of many Ukrainian fairytales,” explains the organizer of the project Natalia Kravets, “our aim is to make Ukrainian heroes interesting for kids, tell about their origin, for example, how the main villain turns from a Serpent into a stepmother. To do this, together with the folklorists we have created several educational stands and bright informational graphics. Another important goal is to collect Ukrainian books for the boarding schools in the east of Ukraine.” At the exhibit the children will be able to paint Ukraine’s largest fairytale coloring book with an area of 15 square meters. The kids will also be creating their own paper heroes at a master class of Lesia Patoka at the opening of the exhibit. Apart from that, the children will be making characters of dough and felt and paint them on cakes.

The Kyiv Municipal Puppet Theater and well-known Ukrainian artists are joining the exhibit. In particular, the play The Cat and the Rooster will be shown at the opening of the project. “We have gladly joined the project ‘In a land that never was in a time that could never be,’ admits the director of the Kyiv Municipal Academic Puppet Theater Mykhailo Urytsky. “There are many Ukrainian folk fairytales in our repertoire, but we don’t stage them often. The idea to popularize Ukrainian fairytales is close to us. Love to own history and country should be fostered in young Ukrainians. We will try to do this with the help of fairytales.” The exhibit “In a land that never was in a time that could never be” will be underway from March 14 till April 14 at 101 Stolychne shose Street, at the gallery space of the Domosfera shopping center. The admission is free, but the organizers call on everyone to bring Ukrainian books which later will be presented to the children from the east.