Exhibition "Easter Pysanka. From the Collection of Erast Binyashevsky"

The National Museum of Decorative Art of Ukraine has opened the exhibition "Easter Pysanka: From the Collection of Erast Binyashevsky." It presents 43 sketches of pysankas from all regions of Ukraine, originating from the unique collection of the prominent collector and researcher of Ukrainian folk art, Erast Binyashevsky (1928–1996).

In the 1960s and 70s, Binyashevsky gathered a collection of pysankas made on whole eggs and meticulously painted each specimen. These preparatory drawings, created on sheets of Whatman paper, are currently preserved in the library of the National Museum of Decorative Art of Ukraine.

The centerpiece of the exposition features approximately 150 recreated pysankas from this rare collection. They were crafted by the renowned master of pysanka writing, Zoya Stashuk, who has dedicated many years to reproducing ancient patterns for their continued preservation. This display represents only a fraction of the monumental work completed by Ms. Stashuk over the past year, during which she recreated more than 700 pysankas from the rare collection.

According to the artist, these pysankas, written on eggshells, will endure for another 120 years, serving as research material for future generations. This was the dream of Erast Binyashevsky himself, who wrote: "One may hope that further study of Ukrainian pysanka designs will not only unlock countless mysteries of the prehistory of East Slavic peoples but also allow for a better understanding of the roots of modern decorative art in Ukraine."

The exhibition will run until April 26.