The first segment of the exhibition, “Ikanycha: Mariupol Pysanka,” will be dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Northern Azov region. Its uniqueness will be reflected in the connection of different time periods, traditions, and contemporary creativity. Following the destruction of the Mariupol Local History Museum in 2022, which housed a unique collection of pysanky of the Azov Greeks – “Ikanycha,” this collection will be reconstructed based on digital records. Thanks to the collaboration between museum professionals and tradition bearers, including master craftswoman Zoia Stashuk, this project will represent an important example of restoring lost heritage and will highlight the strong link between tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
The second segment, “Pysanka of Ukraine,” will present works from the central regions of the country, particularly the Kyiv region and Podillia. These pysanky are characterized by rich colors and symbolic ornaments that reflect the diversity of Ukrainian cultural heritage.
The third segment of the exhibition, “Sorokoput” or “Cossack Meadows – Pysanka of the Odesa Region,” will focus on the traditions of southern Ukraine. The pysanky from this region are associated with the “sorokoput” motif, deeply rooted in local culture. According to legend, chumaks carried pysanky decorated with motifs of “forty roads” as amulets when setting out on their journeys. This section will include both traditional and contemporary examples.
The exhibition is organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Serbia and the Center for Development “Democracy through Culture,” with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, the Mariupol Local History Museum, the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade, the Odesa Regional Center of Ukrainian Culture, and the Vyshhorod Historical and Cultural Reserve.
