This year’s celebration of the 20th anniversary of World Vyshyvanka Day was more than just a formal date on the academic calendar for the Department of Performing Arts and Culture of the Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design (KNUTD); it was a profound immersion into the mental layers of Ukrainian identity. Amidst modern globalization and the challenges of our time, turning to the roots of folk art takes on a special significance, transforming from a simple act of honoring tradition into a powerful tool for shaping the core values of the future cultural elite. Bound by a shared rhythm, the faculty and students of the Faculty of Culture and Creative Industries became part of a living tapestry of unity. Every ornament on their garments pulsed in unison with the heart of the country, reaffirming the continuity of our spiritual lineage.
A priority vector of the department's activities during these festive days was the practical implementation of theoretical knowledge through direct creative engagement with material culture. On May 12, at the initiative of the Department of Performing Arts and Culture, a unique masterclass on vybiika (traditional Ukrainian woodblock printing) was organized for first-year students majoring in "Cultural Studies and Museum Studies" and "Philology". The session was conducted by Associate Professor Daryna Cherniak. Using authentic wooden stamps, students had the opportunity to recreate an ancient textile decoration technique with their own hands, transforming a blank canvas into a symbolic traditional towel (rushnyk). This approach allowed young researchers not just to observe historical artifacts, but to experience the physical nature of creating a traditional piece, where each imprint of the stamp became a conscious step toward understanding the semantics of Ukrainian patterns.
The next stage of the educational and cultural program was a visit by first-year students majoring in "Cultural Studies and Museum Studies" and "Performing Arts" to the University Museum of Vyshyvanka, which has been operating at KNUTD since 2023. The exhibition space, presented by the Director of the Scientific and Technical Library, Candidate of Political Sciences Tetiana Bukoros, became a place of intellectual discovery for the students. The academic community's attention was particularly drawn to the monumental "Rushnyk of Unity" (Rushnyk Yednannia). Measuring 7.2 meters in length, it serves as a unique map of Ukraine's ethnographic diversity, harmoniously bringing together the artistic ornaments of all regions and ethnographic zones of the country into a single composition. The demonstration of a miniature weaving loom and the story of the contributions made by faculty and students to the museum's collections highlighted the vitality of a tradition that continues to thrive within the walls of a modern university, blending professional craftsmanship with a deep reverence for folk heritage.
An essential component of the celebrations was interdepartmental cooperation and the involvement of the faculty in creative practices. The academic staff of our department took an active part in a masterclass on making motanka dolls (traditional Ukrainian knotted rag dolls), which was organized by colleagues from the Faculty of Arts and Fashion. This act of co-creating a sacred amulet became a symbol of interdisciplinary interaction, where professional ethics and academic research are complemented by living creativity. Consequently, the celebration of Vyshyvanka Day at the Department of Performing Arts and Culture transformed into a cohesive educational and emotional narrative. It reaffirms the vyshyvanka as a fundamental genetic code that defines the development trajectory of contemporary Ukrainian culture and arts education!
03.06.2026
