The Opening of the Exhibition "This Unique ClayWORLD"

On March 12, the opening of the ethnographic overview exhibition "This Unique ClayWORLD: Ceramic Artifacts from the Collection of the Ethnography at the Center for Ukrainian Studies and Local Lore named after Academician P.T. Tronko at Karazin Kharkiv National University" took place in the University's Art Gallery named after Henrich Semyradsky.

Pottery traditionally held the greatest demand among the local occupations of Ukrainians. The assortment of ceramic products was quite rich, including household and decorative utensils, ornamental tiles, tiles, sculptures, and more. The exhibition focuses on household utensils and its most common varieties: pots, bowls, jugs, dishes, makitras and Easter pots, which can still be found in rural areas of the Sloboda region. The exposition is complemented by rushnyks (embroidered decorative and ritual towels made of linen from Slobozhanshchyna and some other regions of Ukraine).

During the opening event, the attendees were greeted by the Advisor to the Rector of Karazin University, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Vіl Bakirov. He emphasized the important role of culture and art in public life and thanked the organizers for promoting Ukrainian folk decorative and applied art through exhibitions.

Anna Shport, the Head of the Ethnography Department of the Center for Ukrainian Studies and Local Lore named after Academician P.T. Tronko, provided detailed information about the ethnographic items presented at the exhibition, their history, and functional purpose. She noted that some artifacts had been acquired during the full-scale war, as their owners evacuated them from the territories of active hostilities, later donating them to the collections of the Ethnography Department. Thus, these items were preserved.

Deputy Director of the Center for Ukrainian Studies and Local Lore named after Academician P.T. Tronko, Olga Vovk, drew the attention of the audience to the symbolic start of the exhibition during Shevchenko Days, as Ukraine celebrates the 210th anniversary of the birth of the Great Kobzar.

Valentyna Kholodok, Director of the Kharkiv Organizational and Methodological Tourism Center, stressed the importance of preserving, researching, and popularizing Ukrainian cultural heritage under the conditions of war, which is daily under the threat of destruction. She highlighted that the new exhibition once again emphasizes the unbroken spirit of Kharkiv residents, their aspirations for victory and revival.

Ethnographer and folklorist, professor of the National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute" Mykhailo Krasikov pointed out that clay and its products have always played a significant role in the daily life of Ukrainians, which is reflected in many rituals, proverbs, and sayings, among other things.

The exhibition sparked interest from the city's community and Karazin University. It will be open for viewing until March 23, 2024. We invite everyone interested to visit!