Memory map

Timeline: 2026
Medium: Cyanotype
Quantity: 1 large-scale fabric composition, 3 works on watercolor paper
Print: Canson watercolor paper, fabric

This project is a historical and cultural collage—a visual chronicle that brings together the people, events, and phenomena that have shaped the Ukrainian identity over centuries.
I chose cyanotype for its symbolic weight; the process literally captures the “imprints” of the figures and moments that served as the lifeforce of our nation from its origins to the present day.

The composition creates a shared space where Prince Yaroslav the Wise stands alongside the “Sixtiers” (dissidents of the 1960s). It weaves together the prophetic words of Taras Shevchenko and Lina Kostenko with ancient icons, Cossack history, and the avant-garde art of Kazimir Malevich. From the naive motifs of Maria Prymachenko to the mosaics of Alla Horska and the traditional crafts of Kosiv ceramics and straw weaving, this work is a living chronicle etched by light onto fabric.

Poppy Heads: At the center, dried poppy heads act as “safes” for memory. Each seed represents a name or a voice to be carried forward, suggesting that memory never dies—it simply sleeps in seeds, waiting for the right time to sprout.

Poppy Flowers: Lush blooms along the edges symbolize the cyclical nature of existence and the continuity of life.

“Memory Map” is a reflection of pride and certainty in our genus—knowing where we come from and with what heritage we step into the future.