Author: tetianaadmin

In August 2023 we had an exhibition “Colours of Freedom’ in 2 locations – Balmain Watch House and Woollahra Redleaf Gallery.

What a wonderful experience to bring more beauty to this world, more joy to Ukrainian community of Sydney and more help to those who are in need.

Photo by Elena Levkovskaya Photography https://www.levkovskaya.com/

The 24th of February 2023 marked one year since russia’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. There was a commemoration event at Sydney Town Hall on the 24th of February that highlighted the year of bravery, resilience and courage of Ukrainians through the musical performance titled “Ukraine Undefeated: A Year of Full-Scale War” and an art exhibition “Ukraine: Secrets of Resilience”.
It was a very difficult task for all participants, but for artists especially, as it is tuff  to look back at the horrors of war, choose what you want to display and create an artwork dedicated to particular aspect of war. Creating posters with information about the struggle of ordinary people was very challenging for me. Unlike our other exhibitions this one wasn’t about beauty, but about sorrow.

Photo by Elena Levkovskaya Photography https://www.levkovskaya.com/

As an art group, we wholeheartedly supported the fundraising concert ‘Prayer for Ukraine,’ a beautiful event held at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney CBD. Gratitude goes to St Andrew’s Cathedral for generously providing us the opportunity to be part of such a fantastic venue. Special thanks to Alexandra Sidorenko and her team for orchestrating this meaningful fundraiser for the United Ukraine Appeal. The ‘True Blue and a Little Bit of Yellow’ team contributed blue and yellow art, symbolising unity and hope during these challenging times.

A group exhibition exploring Australian nature through Ukrainian eyes.

Having a deep connection with nature and admiration for its beauty our artist collective ‘True Blue and a Little Bit of Yellow’ produced a new body of works dedicated to the Australian bush. We invited audience to find nature’s treasures and to make a difference. Money raised from the profits of the exhibition went to humanitarian aid for Ukrainians in need.

ARTISTS: Tetiana Koldunenko, Natalya Kravchenko, Elena Levkovskaya, Alice Vigovska, Olena Vigovska, Nataliia Vyaz, and Olena Zubach

Photo by Elena Levkovskaya Photography https://www.levkovskaya.com/

Anticipation couldn’t hold us back any longer! Our next fundraising exhibition, titled ‘Spring Gives Us Hope,’ was presented by the ‘True Blue and a Little Bit of Yellow’ artist collective at the Mona Vale Pop-Up Gallery. Dedicated to celebrating all things flowering and blooming in the world, the exhibition displayed a vibrant, optimistic, and bright show in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Spreading the spirit of hope through art and continue to fundraise for Ukraine.

We had a wonderful time learning how to paint in Ukrainian Folk style Petrykivka.
Workshop at New Castle on 18th September 2022

The Ukrainian Talents of Australia exhibition held at the Ukrainian Youth Centre in Lidcombe, NSW, showcased the diverse artworks of 26 Ukrainian artists from Sydney and Tasmania on September 24-25, 2022. Gratitude goes to everyone who attended the opening, and special thanks to Professor Sergey Jeremenko for his captivating performance during the event. The exhibition provided a platform for Ukrainian artists to share their talents and foster a sense of community through art.

The Ukrainian Culture Research Centre Australia embarked on a poignant new project, “Scarlet & Black,” a presentation showcasing traditional Ukrainian outfits from various regions, illuminating the impact of war on these distinctive styles. The show unfolded at the Ukrainian Festival UkiFest Sydney on August 27, 2022, at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour. Heartfelt gratitude extends to the models, who arrived from Ukraine, seeking refuge from the ravages of war, and to Roxolana Mishalow for her generous support and use of her collection of authentic old clothes. Special thanks to Tania Whitbourn for sharing her late mother Hrystyna Bailey’s collection, providing narration, and filming the show. The backstage support team, including Yevgeniya Chemerys, Kateryna Chemerys, and Oksana Zhukovych, played a crucial role. Many thanks to festival organizer Justin Senko for technical support. As the curator, I created slides, text, and replicas of jewelry and head wreaths. Gratitude to all the models and the support team for successfully telling the story of beauty and sorrow, with the hope that only beautiful memories endure. Special thanks to the brilliant photographer Tetiana Matsypura for capturing the essence of the show in her photos.

Our team took part in ‘Hope for Ukraine’ fundraising event at Glebe, NSW. 12 August 2022

Event was organised by a wonderfull photographer Tetiana Matsypura, who created a unique opportunity for Sydneysiders to enjoy contemporary Ukrainian culture, including: art, music, costume elements, food, drinks and have a photo-session with professional photographers.

In 3 weeks after Gosford exhibition we made  another one at Curl Curl. This time in collaboration with Australian artists. The artists extended an invitation to the audience to immerse themselves in the blue, experience the ocean’s essence through their creations, uncover nature’s treasures, and contribute to making a positive impact. As “true blue” friends, both Ukrainians and Australians share a profound connection with nature, appreciating its beauty and prioritising environmental care. The fundraising exhibition seeked to encapsulate this shared bond, promote unity, and make a difference by raising funds for humanitarian aid to support the people of Ukraine during their time of need. Featured artists include Elena Levkovskaya, Nataliia Vyaz, Tetiana Koldunenko, Olena Vigovska, Alice Vigovska, Natalya Kravchenko, Rachel Carroll, Deanne Palmer, Susan Patrick, Jane Park, Jemima Carroll, Cassie Sofia, Holly Mahoney, Phillippa Thomas, Lorraine Gumbert, Anna Figueira, and Peta Dzubiel.

When the full-scale invasion of russian troops in Ukraine happened on 24th of February 2022 I was very distressed. A participation in an art inspired online auction Openyourheart.online helped me to focus my energy on helping those in need.

Myself and three other Ukrainian artists of Australia, we donated our works to the Fundraising program “Open Your heart.online” and raised nearly 20k for the Ukrainian refugees through Habitat for Humanity.
I called my painting “Towards the light” to emphasise on the aspirations of Ukrainians achieve prosperous and peaceful life, on their movement towards being a member European Union and NATO. The painting shows two butterflies instinctively moving toward the light in this uncertain and rough world. For many cultures the butterfly is a symbol of change and beauty. Ukraine is undergoing a change and, I hopes, it will have a beautiful future. In this painting, I’ve used the colours of the Ukrainian flag. For me, these are the colours of hope and peace and happiness.

Photo by Elena Levkovskaya Photography https://www.levkovskaya.com/

Fortunate to endure lockdown by the seaside, the ocean has become an endless wellspring of inspiration for me. While often tempestuous, there are moments of serene tranquility that exude hope and harmony. It’s no surprise that all my artworks during this time draw from the profound influence of the ocean and the tranquil beauty of the beach, reflecting the dynamic interplay of nature’s moods on canvas.

Quarantine 2020 gave an unexpected time to experiment with polymer clays.

Originally this wedding head wreath from Eastern Podillya (Central Ukraine)  was made from wax droplets and waxed paper flowers. I was afraid it would’t survive Australian climate, so I made this replica from polymer clay.