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The exposition "Mirror of era: Tetiana Yablonska" dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ukrainian artist Tetiana Nylivna Yablonska (1917-2005)
February 24, 2017 in the regional art museum the exhibition "Mirror of era. Tetiana Yablonska "dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Tetiana Nylivna Yablonska (1917-2005) was opened. She is a female legend, Ukrainian artist-painter, who is rightly considered one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century and whose work, without exaggeration, has become a mirror of a historical era, heroic and tragic at the same time.
The list of her regalia already gives an idea of the scale of this outstanding personality - Professor (1967), academician of the USSR Academy of Arts (1975), People's Artist of the USSR (1982), member (academician) of the Academy of Arts of Ukraine (1997-2005), State Prize Winner USSR (1949, 1951, 1979) and National Prize of Ukraine Taras Shevchenko (1998), Hero of Ukraine (2001).
During the lifetime the artist impressed her contemporaries not only with her bright talent, but also with courage and firmness. Despite numerous trials and tribulations she managed to conquer the art Olympus, receiving as an award well deserved recognition and fame. Her creative asset includes more than thirty personal exhibitions. She participated in numerous national, Union and International Fairs.
Since the mid-twentieth century popularity of Tetiana Yablonska got grand scale. Her paintings, in modern language, became a cult, they brought up several generations. Particularly successful experts consider various compositions of the artist dedicated to her favorite topics of active life, work and sport. Many works by Yablonska fare fiiled with her passion for impressionism, of course - within the approved socialist realism. But whatever manner and whatever subject she chose all her works featured a very important quality - the boundless openness.
After the artist passed away, there is another review of her creative works, which has long been the embodiment of Ukrainian school of painting in the world. It’s enough to recall that in 1965 the artist represented Ukrainian art at the XXVII Venice Biennale. In 1972 there was an exhibition of Yablonska in Budapest organized, which did not press with communist propaganda, in metaphorical language she told about eternal truths going to sources of Ukrainian folk art, in fact - the soul of Ukrainian people. It is needed to know for those who today indignantly ask "Who is Yablonska?!".
Tetiana Yablonska was born February 24, 1917 in Smolensk (now - the Russian Federation) in a family of teachers. Her father worked as a curator at art gallery and taught history and literature at a local high school, her mother taught French. After the revolution the family was in a difficult financial situation, but Jablonskyi family always had creative atmosphere, children read a lot, were interested in history. Her father held every year contests for best picture, and the following year new works were compared to previous ones. The children did not go to school as parents tried to protect them from Soviet ideology. In fact they initially supported the idea of Bolshevik Revolution, but were quickly disappointed with it and even tried to emigrate. In 1928 they left Russia and moved to Ukraine, first - to Odessa, then - in Kamenetz-Podilskyi, and after failed attempts to cross the Soviet border - to Lugansk.
In 1933, Tetiana finished seven classes of junior high school and entered the Kiev Art College, and in 1935 became a student of the Faculty of Painting at Kyiv State Art Institute (workshop of Professor Fedir Krychevskyi).
These were terrible times for Ukrainian culture in general and Ukrainian school of painting in particular. All training programs were aligned to Moscow's directives and were further strictly controlled. The teachers, whose creative principles were contrary to the "party line" were barred from teaching and repressed. Thus, not only teachers but also students suffered repressions.
The very first works of Yablonska became an outstanding event in the life of the Institute. She was the first in the history of this educational institution who was provided with the opportunity to organize a solo exhibition, while being a student.
Unfortunately, the graduating work "Return from hay" (1941) was not finished. The war was carried out and the picture was destroyed. It was cut into pieces to curtain the windows during the night blew of enemy aircraft. By the time Yablonska was expecting her first child and she was sent to evacuation. It was difficult to survive, but the artist stood. There was no possibility to do painting. She could rarely take the hands a children's album and pencil. Soldiers’ widows ordered portraits of dead husbands, and she drew them from photos in exchange for eggs, milk and some other products.
In the spring of 1944, Tetiana Nylivna returned to Kyiv and began teaching painting at the Art School as an assistant of Professor Shovkunenko. Professor rarely came to class and Yablonska actually led teaching in the workshop.
Having the opportunity to take a brush again after a forced break, the artist completely devoted herself to the beloved work, making bright, sunny, life-affirming paintings, which reflected the joy of the newly acquired civilian life.
The real model of Ukrainian realistic painting of the twentieth century and an ode to the tilling work was the painting "Bread" (1949), for which Yablonska was awarded the first in her life USSR State Prize (for this very work the artist was also awarded a bronze medal at the World Exhibition in Brussels in 1958 year). Soon, in 1951, she received a second USSR State Prize for the painting "Spring" (1950). It was her star time - nationwide love, exhibitions, publications in the press, fans.
But at the same time there was understanding that something had to be changed. From large canvases Tetiana Nylivna gradually moved to the chamber images of children, which only increased her popularity. And when in the whole country and in culture in particular began "the thaw" (“vidlyha”) and the wind of change blew, Tetiana Nylivna went to Transcarpathia and Armenia. This trip caused interest in folk art and inspired the artist to create a series of monumental and decorative paintings.
One of the best works by Yablonska was considered painting "Life goes on" (1971), written for the impressions received in a trip to Shevchenko places in 1961. That is the picture which was considered by the secretary of propaganda as being a disgrace to Soviet reality, resulting Tetyana Nylivna was removed from all elected positions and purchase commissions. Even publications about her were strictly forbidden. Thanks God that it was temporary.
Very important for the artist creative rehabilitation was a trip to Italy in 1972, where she was struck by the art of the early Italian Renaissance. Yablonska again altered her creative style and created several paintings on the Italian theme full of deep thoughts about eternal things.
One of such works was the painting "Linen" (1977) which marked a complete rejection of Tetiana Nylivna of decoration, and in 1979 she received for this picture third in her life USSR State Prize.
In 1991, as a result of shock from the events in the country, Yablonska suffered a heart attack. This was the threshold at which her last creative period started, which she jokingly called "postinfarktyzm" (post heart attack period). Because of illness, Tetiana Nylivna was not able to walk with her sketchbook long distances, so she began to write interiors, views from the window of her apartment, and in summer – yard around the house in Sedniv.
The paintings in this series in which the artist created her fantastic world, were inspired by pagan folk motifs and were full of deep philosophical meaning, wisdom and incredible lyricism. In 1993 Yablonska presented them at the National Art Museum entitled "From the depths of the soul."
The last major canvas by Tetiana Nylivna was the painting "In the glare of Autumn" (1998) - in which the artist depicted her daughter Haiane. This work is a real ode to harmony of human with nature and the beauty of autumn and a wonderful combination of lyricism manifestation of the philosophical understanding of life.
The strength of character of this unique woman was eloquently evidenced by the fact that when in 1999 because of a stroke the right hand of the artist was paralyzed and she was in a wheelchair, this did not stop her attraction to art. Yablonska learned to paint with her left hand and continued to extol the beauty of nature, which was opened to her through the window. During this period Tetiana Nylivna moved to a new for her pastels technique, proving once again that for true talent nothing is impossible.
June 17, 2005 Tatiana Yablonsky passed away and was buried in the cemetery Baikove in Kiev.
100th anniversary of the birth of this brilliant and, without exaggeration, a landmark personality – is a good reason to recall the famous Ukrainian artist whose life and career has become a good example for future generations.
The exhibition "Mirror of era: Tetiana Yablonska" presents two paintings by the artist from the fund collection of regional art museum - "At the mill in Ashtarats" (1956, oil on canvas; 30,5х41,5) and "We are from Berlin" (middle of the twentieth century; oil on canvas; 120х205,5). The last of these two paintings the museum visitors could see due to Olena Leonidivna Morozova-Sabadash - artist-restorer of the National Research and Restoration Center (Kyiv).
The name of the exhibition eloquently illustrates not only the creative scope of Tetiana Yablonska, but also the specific historical era in which she had to live and work, which has considerable historical and educational significance.
Oleh Yurchenko - Head of Department of
local history and tourist information work of
Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum
 | Mon -Thu: from 9 a.m. to 6.15 p.m. |
 | 60 Velyka Perspektyvna St., 25006, Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine |