Julia Savtchenko
Breath of Life
When Julia Savtchenko was a child, her Ukrainian father read her a fairy tale book brought from Kiev, where horses shone in pink and green. The world of fairy tales was beautiful and delicate, but powerful. Now, the treasures preserved from her childhood; the Ukrainian folk tales book and dishes painted in the petrykivka technique have served as inspiration for the exhibition.
Savtchenko brings old folk tales back to life using traditional Ukrainian techniques. Through her working method, she wants to highlight Ukraine’s rich visual culture while at the same time honoring her own roots and the fighting spirit of Ukrainians in the way she knows best: by illustrating.
Petrykivka is a decorative painting technique developed in the 18th century in the village of the same name, with special features of a two-colored brushing technique and details painted with handmade cat hair brushes. The painting tradition was added to the Unesco list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.
Julia Savtchenko (b. 1987, in Joutseno) is a Helsinki-based illustrator and children’s author whose fairy-tale-like works transport the viewer to other realities. Her skillful illustrations emphasize strong contrasts and an abundance of small details. Savtchenko’s clients include WSOY, Karisto, Hertta Kustannus, Art House, KOM-teatteri and the City of Kouvola.
Welcome to the exhibition opening on Thursday, 27 November from 5–7 pm.
You can also meet the illustrator at her exhibition on Sunday, November 30th, from 12-4pm, and in a cosy Christmas atmosphere on the exhibition’s closing day, December 21st.
The exhibition has been supported by Arts Promotion Centre Finland and the Finnish Illustration Association.
