Description
Book SynopsisA celebration of Ukraineâs rich cultural heritage, drawing on over 100 of the countryâs most important works of art and architectural monuments from prehistory to the present. Showcasing more than one hundred objects and buildings â from Byzantine icons and wooden churches to gold-domed cathedrals, folk art, and avant-garde masterpieces â Treasures of Ukraine chronicles the rich arts and heritage of a country currently facing destruction and devastation. The significance of the pieces is explained by renowned artists, curators, and critics, revealing the nationâs complex history and its impact on the present. From the development of ancient cultures like Trypillia and Scythia to early states such as Kyivan Rus and the Cossack Hetmanate, to the dawn of Modernism and the striking contemporary paintings and political artworks being produced today, Treasures of Ukraine reminds us that art and monuments represent powerful sources of collective memory and identity. All proceeds will
Trade Review'Timely and poignant … perfectly chronicles and captures the rich artistic and cultural heritage of a country facing destruction and devastation. A forceful reminder of the importance of art and monuments as powerful sources of collective memory and identity' - Luxury London
'Impactful' - Citizen Femme
'Current events have taught us a great deal about Ukraine. We have all become aware that it has an entirely distinct identity from Russia – historically, socially and also artistically, as TREASURES OF UKRAINE makes clear … This handsomely illustrated volume demonstrates that there is a great deal to see there, which one hopes will still exist when the war is over' - Martin Gayford, The Spectator
'A timely reminder of how much is at stake in the ongoing war with Russia ... Features a broad range of Ukrainian art ... Much of Ukraine's art is tied to religion ... but as this book shows, Ukraine is no stranger to Modernism, Art Nouveau or the Avant-garde' - NPR
'A corrective to Putin's version of history, in which Ukraine has been nothing more than a part of Russia... Introduced by the novelist Andrey Kurkov, the book features eight Ukrainian academics, curators and art critics writing about works of art created inhabitants of the region, from Scythian stone stelae of the 6th century B.C. to recent videos made by graduates of the National University of Cinema in Kyiv' - The Washington Post
'This gorgeous book documents the history of Ukrainian art and culture through more than 220 photographs of the country’s religious buildings, masterpieces, architectural monuments, and more' - The Washingtonian
'Timely and attractive … With this fairly compact book covering such a long sweep of history, the texts on each specific subject are brief, but offer enough information to give an easily comprehensible introduction to a period and a flavour of some of Ukraine’s diverse cultural riches, from Scythian stone figures and medieval castles to experimental theatre and New Brutalism, showcased by abundant illustrations' - Minerva
'With chapters on Orthodox icons and Catholic cathedrals, Soviet avant-gardism and nationalist folk crafts, this book illustrates a culture whose very diversity now puts it in danger' - New York Times
'Engaging and enlightening... Tells Ukraine’s broader history through a survey of its art' - New York Journal of Books
'Stunning … a rich, rewarding and ultimately moving celebration of the country’s long history' - All About History
'A corrective to the destruction of war … highly readable' - Studio international
'An utterly exceptional edition that reveals a panoramic representation of Ukrainian art within the intricate fabric of European culture' - Chytomo
Table of ContentsIntroduction:
Andrey Kurkov Map of Ukraine
1. Pre-history to Early History
Andriy Puchkov 2. Kyivan Rus
Christian A. Raffensperger 3. The Lithuanian–Ruthenian State
Diana Klochko 4. The Ukrainian Baroque Era
Maksym Yaremenko 5. The Nineteenth Century and the Fin-de-Siecle
Alisa Lozhkina 6. Avant-Garde Art and Theatre
Myroslava M. Mudrak 7. Soviet Rule, the Ukrainian SSR and Non-conformist Art
Oleksandr Soloviev 8. Postmodern and Contemporary Art
Victoria Burlaka Appendix: Folk arts
Alisa Lozhkina Timeline of Ukrainian History
