Karazin University Opens Exhibition “Great Compatriots: Dmytro Yavornytskyi”

On August 20, in the halls of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, a documentary and art exhibition “Great Compatriots: Dmytro Yavornytskyi” was solemnly opened. It is dedicated to the 170th anniversary of the birth and the 85th anniversary of the death of the outstanding Ukrainian historian, researcher of the Cossacks, and graduate of Karazin University, Dmytro Ivanovych Yavornytskyi.

This year’s exposition became part of the large-scale cultural and educational project “Great Compatriots,” which for 20 years has united historians, artists, and public figures to honor prominent personalities of Kharkiv and Ukraine. The initiative was implemented with the support of the “Hostynna na Dvorianskoi” club, the Rubanenko & Partners corporation, as well as leading Kharkiv museums and libraries, scholars, museum workers, and local historians from Kyiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia.

“For us, it is a great honor to open this exhibition in the year of the 220th anniversary of Karazin University. Dmytro Yavornytskyi is an example of courage, love for Ukraine, and devotion to science. We are proud that he was our student and graduate,” emphasized Rector of the University Tetyana Kaganovska.

The documentary part of the exposition brought together over 20 authors — historians, local historians, museum specialists, and journalists from Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kyiv. They presented little-known facts about Yavornytskyi’s Kharkiv period of life: his studies, academic pursuits, circle of friends and teachers, as well as his contribution to preserving the memory of the Zaporizhzhian Cossacks.

The artistic part is embodied in the works of artists, including specially created paintings by People’s Artist of Ukraine Viktor Kovtun and a sketch for the diorama “Cossack Council at the Sich” by People’s Artist of Ukraine Oleksandr Khmelnytskyi. The exhibition is complemented by works of art restorer Artem Pohribnyi and pieces from the private collections of Karina Movsesian and Valerii Hrubar.

“This is a collective perspective on the figure of our great compatriot. We aimed to create an atmosphere that would allow visitors to feel the epoch of Yavornytskyi,” noted the exhibition’s organizer Liudmyla Rubanenko.

The exhibition “Great Compatriots: Dmytro Yavornytskyi” will run until September 25 in the main building of Karazin University (Svobody Square 4, 2nd floor).

Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday — closed. Admission is free.