Not too long ago, I went to an art exhibit at the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts concerning an important recurring symbol in traditional Ukrainian folk culture -- the Tree of Life. The exhibit featured the beautiful watercolour art of Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn, a prominent Edmonton artist, curator, instructor and academic expert in the field of Ukrainian Ethnography at the University of Alberta.
The Tree of Life motif symbolizes life, strength, and the interconnectedness of heaven and earth. It appears in paintings, embroidery, mosaics, pysanky (Easter eggs), and wedding items. Homes often display a Tree of Life to bring good health and prosperity.
The Tree of Life motif is usually depicted as a vertical stem symmetrically balanced with birds, flowers, and/or cranberries on either side. The choice of specific birds and flowers is often symbolic as well. Cranberries (kalyna) represent longing and healing related to the unquiet dead (often soldiers killed in battle).
These photographs show my most favourite pieces from the exhibit. Please pardon the reflections of myself and the overhead lights in the frames' glass. If you'd like to see the other art from this exhibit, check out the artist's website here.
This final image is a practice piece detail for a larger work. Isn't it utterly charming!
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This post is also being linked to
Sunday in the Art Room HERE
Beautiful! My favorite is the one with the peacock. For some reason the last image isn't visible for me.
ReplyDelete@ Duni -- Try refreshing the page. That often works for me when images don't show up the first time.
Delete...may tree of life live on and on! 💛 💙
ReplyDeleteAmazing work,
ReplyDeleteThey're all quite beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful paintings.
ReplyDeleteI see them as embroidered pictures rather than paintings! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThese pieces are really lovely. A couple of them even have a slightly Scandinavian feel, or perhaps the Scandinavian ones have a slightly Ukrainian feel.
ReplyDeleteThose are so lovely.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful, Debra.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful, thank you for showing us. The tree of life is an ancient motif in many cultures, and this style is particularly lovely.
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful. I'd like one of each!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThese remind me a great deal of the Mexican Tree of Life. Arbol de la Vida. They, however, are ceramic rather than painted. Have you ever seen any of those?
ReplyDelete@ Ms. Moon -- No, I haven't seen any of those, but I bet they're gorgeous!
DeleteOn her site the Kalyna, and Poppies 1 & 2 are my favorites. I wish I had the money to buy them.
ReplyDeletestunning work❤️
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful exhibit to visit. The Tree of Life is such a powerful symbol, and it’s fascinating how it appears in so many forms of Ukrainian folk art. The balance of birds, flowers, and kalyna makes the designs feel both meaningful and elegant. Thanks for sharing these pieces, it’s always wonderful to see traditions expressed through contemporary artists like Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this one as this is part me and my mom and gram. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteMs. Cheladyn's watercolour art is stunningly beautiful -- the colours and level of detail are wonderful. The meaning of cranberries is especially poignant. SLAVA UKRAINI!
ReplyDeleteLots and lots of color. 😁
ReplyDeleteLike Duni, I didn't have that last image and so had to refresh the page and it was well worth the effort. Love those birds.
ReplyDeleteThese are so beautiful! So, hopeful and heartful.
ReplyDeleteHello Debra, I liked the one with the all-red viburnum-with-berries. All of these brought to mind how many Chinese artworks have a central vase with flowers or branches coming out of it, often with flanking life forms (dragons, lions, deer, other flowers and plants). The central element of the art has a vitality which creates the spirit of the art.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Taking pictures through glass is a beast. These are lovely works of art.
ReplyDeleteThey’re all stunning I especially love the peacock with the huge beautiful tail
ReplyDeleteWell, like minds do think alike. My post for SITAR is on American Folk Art. Than you for joining in with these amazing piece of art. Have a great day today.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pieces of Ukrainian art, Debra. Edmonton certainly had a lot of cultural events. That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful glimpse into the symbolic world of Tree of Life
ReplyDeleteThey certainly were incredible. Love.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful, Debra.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is the vertical row of poppies. My Ukrainian friends tell me they continue to wear their traditional garb a lot more now, despite the unending war. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how to "refresh the page" so I am glad these pictures showed up. I love them all, they are so colourful.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty art, and interesting ifo about the Tree of Life
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday
My SundaySmile linky is
HERE
much love
Glorious, as is the strength and courage of the Ukrainian people
ReplyDeleteThese are such beautiful pieces. I love all the birds in the Tree of Life, but my favorite (although without birds) is the poppies one. All of them are exquisite and I'm glad that shared them with us, Debra.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this; Hey! I learned something!
ReplyDeleteThe pieces you've shown here are absolutely stunning! I love everything about them. Have you tried your hand at recreating one yourself?
ReplyDelete@ Busy Bee Suz -- Sorry, I think I inadvertently deleted your comment! To answer your question, though, no I've never thought of doing my own Tree of Life art . . . but now you've put ideers in my head!
ReplyDelete@ Busy Bee Suz -- Hurray, your comment was just in Spam after all!
DeleteDear heartfelt thanks for this beautiful post 🥰🙏
ReplyDeleteSuch artwork is truly special to me because of my memories linked to such artwork that were being created everywhere in my small village by women and girls. Traditional bedsheets ,pillow covers and chair and table covers were part of girls dowry and there were competition among girls to come with more charming ideas . I have shared photos of bedsheet gifted by my mother if you remember.it was needlework by mom .
So whenever I see such gorgeous art I feel stunned and strongly connected to litre of life 🥰🥹