On May 12, 2025, the exhibition “Sketch Stories of Centuries-old Trees of Kyiv” opened as the culmination of an artistic research project carried out by students during a sketching session of the scientific and creative club “Sketching Club”, under the guidance of the instructors from Department of Digital Art Svitlana Pashukova and Ulyana Balan. Timed to coincide with World Environment Day, the event fused creative exploration, careful observation, and environmental awareness into a profound artistic experience.
The central theme of the project was the depiction of centuries-old trees in Kyiv, unique natural objects that are not only botanical monuments but also living witnesses to the city’s history, symbolizing wisdom, longevity, and the connection between generations. During the sketching session, the students studied real long-lived trees in Kyiv, which are 100 to 900 years old. According to the Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center, 86 of these trees, 349 in total, have already been included in the State Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine, and 20 trees in Kyiv are included in the list of 500 outstanding trees in Ukraine.
In the process, the participants developed their observation skills, analyzed the shapes, textures, and character of natural objects, and learned to transform the information they gathered into visual artistic images. Each sketch is based not only on the form of a tree, but also on its story – revealed in every branch, crack in the bark, distinctive silhouette, and imprint of time. This project serves as a vivid example of the synthesis of art and ecology, functioning as a visual language for archiving the natural world.
The exhibition, held in the space of the KNUTD Scientific and Technical Library, served as the final chord of the creative session and a powerful call to preserve Kyiv’s natural heritage. Through art, the students not only honed their sketching techniques but also highlighted the importance of a responsible attitude toward the environment. The project demonstrated that ecological thinking can – and should – become an integral part of art education and broader cultural development.
02.06.2025
