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Ivan Honchar’s Ukraine and Ukrainians

Photo by Mykhailo MARKIV MUSEUM CURATOR PETRO HONCHAR PREPARING FOR AN EXHIBIT

An exhibit called “Ivan Honchar the Collector,” commemorating the 95th anniversary of the birth of this renowned civic and cultural figure, sculptor, painter, and Ukrainian folk art specialist, has opened at the Ukrainian Center of Folk Culture. On display are paintings, photos, and documents that were collected by Ivan Makarovych when he was creating his home-based museum of the Ukrainian ethnographic heritage.

In fact, this house museum became the Ivan Honchar State Museum in 1993, on the basis of which the “Ivan Honchar Museum” Ukrainian Center of Folk Culture was created in December 1993. Today, the center is devoted to preserving, studying, and popularizing Ukraine’s largest private ethnographic collection. It holds scientific conferences and workshop seminars, and organizes ethnographic expeditions, exhibits, and meetings of ethnographic and art clubs.

As a young man, Honchar fought in WWII and witnessed the destruction of cultural values. The history of the museum dates from this period. That was when he promised himself, “If I survive, I will create works of art and collect gems of folk art.” He kept his promise. In 1957, setting off on his first expedition to collect items for the house museum, Honchar embarked on a project that would last almost 40 years, studying and collecting works of folk art. He travels far and wide throughout the countryside, and he has visited almost every corner of Ukraine. He communicates with people who can tell him many interesting things about our unique art. Some of the items on display at the museum were purchased, while others were given to Honchar as presents. Among them are folk costumes, musical instruments, paintings, earthenware, and unique historical and documentary photos of the late 19th and mid-20th centuries.

In addition to founding a museum, Honchar took up sculpting and painting. He is the author of sculptural portraits of numerous historical and cultural figures. He was the first to depart from traditional portrayals of Shevchenko by painting a young Taras. His canvas Young Taras Shevchenko is in the Tretyakov Gallery. In 1954 he created a monument to Maxim Gorky in Yalta and was nominated for the State Prize. Among his works are sculptural portraits of Ivan Kotliarevsky, Hryhoriy Skovoroda, Ivan Franko, Mykhailo Drahomanov, Ivan Nechui-Levytsky, Andriy Malyshko, Volodymyr Sosiura, and many other Ukrainian men of arts and letters. Some of his sculptures are included in the current exhibit.

Ivan Honchar died in 1993. His friends and relatives have commemorated him by gathering every year on his birthday, Jan. 27. His 95th anniversary was no exception. “Very many people came,” recalls chief archivist Lidia Dubykivska-Kalchenko, adding, “The celebrations of previous years took place in a narrower circle. Today the exposition ‘Ivan Honchar the Collector’ is open. It is based on his memories of his travels across Ukraine.”

The commemorative soiree was marked by the launch of the book Ukraine and Ukrainians, Ivan Honchar’s historical and ethnographic art album. It includes rare documentary photos taken in various parts of Ukraine, local characters and landscapes, architecture, and household utensils. The album contains a collection of 160 sheets from an 18-volume album created by Honchar. Some photos from the album are included in the exhibit, which ends on Feb. 15.

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