Vytynanka - is a centuries long Ukrainian tradition of paper cut designs used for indoor decoration. Usually they are symmetrical and can be any shape and colour. I decided to start with white and concentrate on the subjects that are important for understanding the culture, history and nature of Ukraine. Wheat was the first thing that came to my mind. Bread is the essence of Ukrainian cousine. The very pronunciation of the Ukrainian round bread loaf Palyanytsa used to be a test to tell the friend from the enemy. Ukraine is and has been one the largest exporters of wheat in the world. And yet Soviet authorities created an artificial famine in Ukraine in 1930s, by confiscating and selling all the crops abroad. The deep symbolism of wheat is embroidered in the collective memory of the nation; maybe that’s the reason I cannot stop cutting out this very theme.
I also did several versions of sunflower - a National flower of Ukraine, storks - a National bird and other plants.
Each of my designs is unique despite looking similar. Every time I start with a new illustration sketch, different from the ones I drew before. Some of the designs presented here are in private collections, but some are still for sale.
Paper cut pieces are important for me on many levels. First, the process of meditatively cutting paper helped me get through the heartbreaking news and anxiety of what was going on in Ukraine in the first year of the full time invasion. Creating the pattern, grain by grain, line by line, helped me to relieve stress and cope with day to day activities, with some much suffering on the background. I've created more than 10 detailed pieces in one month because that was the only thing that was calming me down and getting me though.
At that time I realise that other people could also feel the power of art practice to come with hard times in their lives.
You can also commission me to cut out something special for you. Please keep in mind that it is a time consuming technique and all orders have to be placed in advance of minimum 2 weeks depending on complexity of the job.