Puzzles

December 31, 2020. Kherson community collect money for a gift to the "Ukraine-Lithuania Cultural Center". This must be the painting "Old Fortress" by Olena Rybalchenko.

Olena Rybalchenko is a self-taught folk artist who creates genuine, very sincere Ukrainian naive art. At the time of our acquaintance, she was 91 years old. During her lifetime, she created more than a thousand paintings, but the picture of "Old Fortress" is unique. Usually, the artist paints scenes from folk songs, biblical stories, and still lifes. This fortress was drawn by Olena Rybalchenko in 2005 based on memories of her trip to the Baltic States. This is not a specific fortress, but its impression, that is, a generalized imaginary image. However, this fortress is very similar to the fortress in Tyagin, which is already being explored by archaeological expeditions with the support of the Ukraine-Lithuania Cultural Center, and which exists increasingly in our imagination. As the result of the excavations, we can see the walls, the foundation, some artifacts but all the rest we can only imagine.

By buying the painting, we also wanted to support the artist. It is not easy single-handedly to buy a painting, so the Center of Cultural Development "Totem" divided the image of painting into virtual puzzles, and everyone could buy one or several puzzles, thereby making a small donation.

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The necessary amount was collected in a few days. The painting was gifted to the Ukraine-Lithuania Cultural Center, and the names of all 25 donors were placed next to it in the office.