Shum art gallery

The “OSNOVA” (The warp) project is about the continuity of tradition and culture, because these are what shape our sense of belonging and the way we see ourselves in the world. What we hear, see, and learn from previous generations becomes a part of us.

“When I weave using a simple plain weave, I think to myself—this weave is already 5,000 years old. Imagine—nothing has changed in 5,000 years; even the most modern machine creates it the same way—one thread up, the other down. In that moment, I feel as if I’ve been initiated into some wondrous mystery, into a certain ancient knowledge,” notes Yaroslava.

Thus, in this project, threads become not only a material but also a visual representation of a dialogue across the ages, while the ornament serves as a contemporary reinterpretation of authentic geometric and botanical motifs.
Therefore, the memory of traditions underscores the importance of continuing to cherish what has been preserved for us with such reverence and care.

This is especially felt in times of crisis, when the familiar world crumbles and many things that seemed important lose their significance. Then a person returns once again to simple yet complex questions: Who am I? What defines me? This exhibition is about continuity and tradition—the living tradition that shapes us in Ukraine as Ukrainians. It’s about how the patterns on our grandmothers’ towels, shirts, or pillows are not mere decoration or ornamentation. They are history, our identity, and our culture, shaped over the centuries.