Five Ukrainian artisans to have on your radar

Contemporary expressions of cultural heritage and art not only contribute to defining Ukraine’s national identity, but also tap into the common emotions that connect all of humanity. Founded in 2020 by Lucia Bondar based in Ukraine Creative publishing produces books that highlight innovators who bring new perspectives on historical symbols, concepts, materials and techniques through their images, craftsmanship, cuisine and product designs. The five artisans listed below are just a few of the many visionaries shaping this cultural development.

Five Ukrainian artisans you need to know

Anna Senik

A model wearing traditional authentic folk clothing as depicted in the book “Ukrainian Folk Fashion”.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Anna Senik)

Anna SenikPioneer of Ukrainian ethnophotography, works with museums, artisans and ethnologists to create atmospheric photo shoots with models wearing traditional, authentic folk clothing, as depicted in the book Ukrainian folk fashion Co-authored with embroidery expert Yurii Melnychuk. “The constant theme of my photos is the ancient beauty of traditional Ukrainian culture,” says Senik. “Today, in times of war when attempts are being made to destroy everything Ukrainian, the question of preserving one’s own identity is more acute than ever – and this is where artistic visualization comes to the rescue.” The questions “Who are we?” How are we?’ are answered in colors and shapes and affirm the inestimable uniqueness of our national heritage.”

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Sergei Melnichenko

An image from the book “Conceptual Photography”

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)

Sergei MelnichenkoFounder of the school of conceptual art photography MYPH presented in the book Conceptual photographycaptures images that expand and diversify cultural dialogue. “I can take thousands of photos like the ‘Tattoos of War’ series with every person, every child and every brave military member from our strong and rebellious state,” he explains. “Everything that happens now is our common fate, our history, which is written in blood every day.” All my projects, even if they look like documentaries, contain an artistic component. “When viewers see my works about the war, I want them to feel the same emotions as the characters in the photo shoots – and millions of Ukrainians.”

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Igor Mezentsev

An image included in the book ‘Cooking in the wild‘

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)

Igor Mezentsev is a chef at the Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv and co-founder alongside the food photographer Dmytro Bahtades Topot: Bridge Project presented in the book Cooking in the wild. On a five-day hike in the Carpathians in 2021, international celebrity and novice chefs returned to the roots of Ukrainian gastronomy by foraging for ingredients, sourcing meat from farmers and inventing recipes cooked over fire and coals. “Our goal was not to interpret or reinvent the tradition by adding fusion elements, but to create something truly new, where the focus is on the ingredients, followed by the dishes prepared from them,” says Mezentsev. “My team and I continue to search for what truly defines the new Ukrainian cuisine.” “We found that it is rooted in the nature around us, in artisanal producers and in the stories that emerge from the search based on new and rediscovered ingredients.”

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Oleksandra Rudenko and Yuriy Vovnyanko

The book contains colorful and structured designs Contemporary Ukrainian handicrafts

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)

The reinterpretation of old customs is also possible Oleksandra Rudenkoalongside Yuriy Vovnyanko founder of Ruda Studio. Profiled in the book Contemporary Ukrainian handicraftsThe team creates furniture, lighting and décor using straw marquetry. “This is where our continued existence as a people, culture and country lies,” says Rudenko. “The multi-layered mission of our work is based on the past (memory), the present (time) and the future (continuation). Today more than ever we feel a deep need for authenticity and continuity. After centuries of foreign rule that imposed foreign cultures and values on us, we are on a journey of self-discovery. As designers and artisans, we honor our history and revive traditional forms to ensure our cultural survival and global presence. By rediscovering our true selves, we can ensure we never lose our identity again.”

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Oksana Levchenya

“Space Cossacs” textiles in the book “Contemporary Ukrainian Handicrafts”

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)

Textile artist Oksana LevchenyaFounder of OLK Manufactoryalso occurs in Contemporary Ukrainian handicrafts for her studio’s lively weavings, which sometimes playfully translate traditional motifs into contemporary patterns. “What do we want to convey with these interpretations – do we want to show common features that are characteristic of all humanity, or do we want to differentiate ourselves through our identity?” she asks. “Too much importance is given to identity. “The universality of craft techniques and their improvement unites different cultures of people, promotes creativity and creates the conditions for a humane and creative world in which virtue lies in creation and not in destruction.”

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Five Ukrainian artisans you need to know

Anna Senik

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