Contribution short abstract:

My project is an interpretation of folk traditional ornaments and symbols, combined with the bible texts into a modern art. It is a unique combination presented in my works. I believe, this project will make people feel the pain, Ukrainians carry inside, and see the beauty of reviving traditions.

Contribution long abstract:

Interpreting traditional ornaments into something new and unusual has been one of my main tasks. My goal for an art presentation is to make Ukrainian culture popular again and to convey to the world that if we do not make every effort to preserve our culture now, it may disappear.

The Ukrainian language, songs, clothes and even dishes were once repressed, but our people managed to preserve them despite the strict prohibitions. It is important to pass on this hidden cultural wealth to the next generations in a modern form. I want to show that ornaments are not just embroidered flowers on a white shirt, but deeper symbols such as prayer. This approach expands the boundaries of the use of ornaments, making them relevant in other areas of art: tattoos, posters, photography, video, etc.

The fear of losing my national identity prompted me to create a project in which I spread the idea of preserving culture through text encoded in Ukrainian ornamentation. To do this, I use the alphabet from Volodymyr Pidhirniak's book «Textual Embroidery».

During the war, prayer and faith became my comfort, so my works are based on biblical texts and symbols, which gives them a deep meaning. The red and black colors symbolize the blood of Ukrainian soldiers and the black soil on which this blood is shed in the struggle for Ukraine, its culture and people.

It is an honor for me to make the art presentation to share the witness of my suffering culture.