The non-traditional concept of Vasyl’ Vovkun was to
combine traditional Ukrainian costume, embroidery and articles of
personal adornment (from the private collections of Viktor Yushchenko,
Ivan Honchar, Lidia Lykhach, and Vasyl Vovkun) with the modern creations
from the collections of present-day fashion designers. The exhibit
was officially opened on March 6, 2003 in the National Museum of Art
(Natsional’nyi Khudozhnii Muzei) in Kyiv.
In his
welcoming speech, Viktor Yushchenko said that, in his view, “Ukrainian
costume [and dress] was never ‘provincial’. A Museum of apparel and
fashion has not yet been founded in Ukraine, even though many unique
items from the hope chests of many of Ukraine’s grannies, as well
as artifacts currently residing in private collections, are waiting
for just such a facility. It is gratifying, that these artifacts are
a source of enthusiasm and inspiration for fashion designers, the
work of whom we see on display here today.”
The symbol of the exhibit “Circle: Ukraine in Fashion”
has become a 100-year old wooden bicycle – unique and perhaps the
only one of its kind in Ukraine, which is one of Viktor Yushchenko’s
latest acquisitions to his private collection. This bicycle, as with
every article produced by a true master craftsman, is an exceptional
piece of artistic creativity. And, as a symbol – represents the integrally
related continual motion of the creation of cultural treasures, as
well as that of the preservation of these treasures.
