My First Exhibition "The Soul of Ukraine" | Гайдамака Оля

The dream of having my own exhibition seemed out of reach, but fate gave me a meeting with the charming Olha Huzii. It was she who nudged me toward the first step on the path to making my dream come true — organising my first solo exhibition "The Soul of Ukraine" at the T. Shevchenko Literary Memorial House-Museum in Kyiv.

The road to the exhibition

At the time we met, I had only a few finished paintings. But the goal was clearly defined, and inspiration filled me to the brim. Over a year and a half of persistent work, I created enough pieces for a full exhibition.

Olha helped organise the exhibition in a special place — the museum where her mother worked. It was the very house where Taras Shevchenko lived in 1846-47, before his arrest in the case of the Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

The concept behind my work

My work is closely tied to traditional Ukrainian culture. I am captivated by its mystical rituals, customs, beliefs and protective charms. A special place in my works is held by the extraordinary beauty of embroidered costumes and the richness of headdresses.

In my works I experiment with proportions and volumes, paying particular attention to traditional Ukrainian costumes. Their extraordinary beauty, colours and wealth of forms inspire me to depict them on a larger scale. Voluminous headdresses and embroidered sleeves create a sense of grandeur and calm. In the massive sleeves, as in a miniature universe, the whole power of Ukrainian tradition is concentrated.

The exhibition opening

The opening of the exhibition was a true celebration. The museum director invited the distinguished artists Volodymyr Harbuz and Anatoliy Haydamaka. It was incredibly valuable to meet such masters and hear their professional opinion of my work.

Many people came to the opening to congratulate and support me. This day will forever remain in my memory as the day my dream came true.

Media coverage

The exhibition was covered in Ukrainian media: