LONDON, UK (22 June, 2023) – This July, Saatchi Gallery will showcase paintings by Ukrainian folk artist Maria Prymachenko (1908 – 1997), one of the country’s best-loved artists. These works will be shown in the UK for the first time, having been preserved by the artist’s family for more than fifty years.
The Ukrainian museum where many of Prymachenko’s artworks were previously held was destroyed when Russian forces occupied the local village. Though concerned locals rescued some of her paintings from the blazing museum, it is now only possible to encounter Prymachenko’s work through exhibitions like this one. At a time when sharing and amplifying Ukrainian artistic voices has never been more important, Prymachenko’s artworks remind us of the beauty in everyday existence and are a vibrant and affirming symbol of hope.
This exhibition will showcase 23 works by Prymachenko. Many are double-sided, providing an insight into the self-taught artist’s working processes and methods. The works, originally conceived as illustrations for a children’s book, reflect life in a small village in the Kyiv region through magical and naïve imagery. Prymachenko drew inspiration and subject matter from various sources: observing nature, interacting with people around her, and delving into her own inner world.
Saatchi Gallery is delighted to work in partnership with the Prymachenko Family Foundation and the Ukrainian Embassy on this project. The conditions of war present new challenges for the preservation of cultural heritage in Ukraine, and the Foundation is working to safeguard Prymachenko’s legacy through the creation of a new museum complex on the site of the artist’s house. We are grateful for the support of Maria’s granddaughter Anastasia Prymachenko.
Anastasiya Prymachenko, granddaughter of Maria Prymachenko adds: “In this exhibition, it is important for us to convey not only the artist that Maria Prymachenko was but also the strength of her personality. Maria was very wise, kind, determined, and open to the world. She incorporated her worldview and philosophy into the paintings she created. However, I would like to emphasize that her artworks reflect not only her inner world but also the external world. With all its everyday life, problems, and concerns that were important to Maria. That’s why her art is filled with such sincerity, which transcends time and borders.”
Natalia Gnatiuk, partner of the Prymachenko Family Foundation and co-curator: “We are working hard to create a museum complex on the premises of the house where Maria Prymachenko lived. It will include a museum section where her artworks and personal belongings will be exhibited, as well as a residency for contemporary artists. They will have the opportunity to stay there for a certain period, drawing inspiration from this atmosphere and embodying their own creative ideas. It will be a place of strength, capable of welcoming guests from around the world after Ukraine’s victory.”