Exhibition "MİRAS. Heritage"

What do we know about the culture of the Crimean Tatars, an indigenous people of Ukraine? What do the symbols of the traditional Örnek ornament mean? How did Crimean Tatars dress and spend their leisure time 200 years ago? Which ancient traditions have been preserved to this day, and what shared meanings unite Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians?

The Crimean Tatars are an indigenous people of Ukraine whose origins and historical fate are inextricably linked to Crimea and the Northern Black Sea region. For centuries, their traditional culture has blended features of various civilizations—Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian. Yet, it never became a mere fragment of any; instead, it forged its own distinct identity within the unique ethnic tapestry of Crimea.

The exhibition "MİRAS. Heritage" is a joint project with the NGO "Alem," which focuses on the protection and promotion of Crimean Tatar intangible cultural heritage. The exhibition aims to showcase Crimean Tatar culture as a living phenomenon with continuous traditions that still influence social values, daily life, political culture, and relationships with the world.

For the first time on mainland Ukraine, the exhibition presents a comprehensive collection of Crimean Tatar jewelry and household items from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Highlights include:

• Silver Qushaqs (women’s belts) and Tepeliks (women’s headpiece ornaments), showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of Crimean Tatar filigree.

• Silver cases for the Quran and men's amulets.

• Coffee culture utensils, traditional clothing, and examples of gold embroidery.

Through rich ornamental compositions, visitors can explore the customs, art, and religious traditions of Crimea's indigenous people. Decorative artists created these patterns not just for aesthetics but to convey deep meanings shared by Ukrainians: the desire for prosperity, strong family bonds, safety, respect for elders, health, and a connection to nature and the homeland.

The second hall presents "Crimea through the eyes of the Other"—lithographs from an album by Friedrich Gross. A descendant of German colonists, Gross captured the traditional world of the Crimean Tatars in the first half of the 19th century, while the legacy of the Khanate era was still alive. Many of the landmarks he depicted were subsequently destroyed during the process of Russian colonization.

Project Partners:

• National Museum of Ukrainian Folk Decorative Art;

• Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine;

• Ukrainian ethnic clothing designer Olena Didyk.

• Items from the private collections of Esma Adzhiieva, Vitalii Provolovskyi, and Elmira Seit-Ametova.

Curators: Oleksii Savchenko (National Museum of the History of Ukraine) and Esma Adzhiieva (NGO "Alem").

The project serves as a platform to discover common ways of thinking, feelings, and values. This will be facilitated by interactive events: lectures, workshops, and informal meetings with Crimean Tatar artists.

The "Miras. Heritage" exhibition is part of the NGO "Alem" project "Meanings that Unite," implemented with the support of Switzerland through the SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation).

Visitor Information:

• Hours: Daily (except Monday), 10:00 AM – 5:45 PM (Ticket office and entry until 5:00 PM).

• Admission: Included with the general museum ticket – 200 UAH (100 UAH for students, schoolchildren, and seniors).

• Guided tours are available upon request.

• Inquiries: +38 (044) 280-13-96 or +38 (093) 619-70-29 (Viber, Telegram).

Location: The Treasury of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine 9 Lavrska St, Building 12 (On the grounds of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve, entrance through the main Lavra gate).