By CASEY NEILL
UKRAINIAN culture will take centre stage in an art and music showcase.
Keysborough artist Olga Pasechnikova is curating the Week of Ukrainian Culture event from 2 to 5 June, and will have about 40 paintings on display.
“It’s not quite about celebration. It’s more about education,” she said.
“I think Ukrainian culture has been underappreciated in Australia.
“People in Australia think of the Ukraine as a little part of Russia. That is not so.
“We are independent, distinctive.”
She said Ukraine’s capital city, Kiev, was centuries older than Russia’s Moscow.
“They have a vision of Russia as an ancient country and the Ukraine as small and newly-invented,” she said.
Ms Pasechnikova’s striking self-portrait One Heart Tears features bloodied tears streaming down her face.
“I made this when the Russians invaded Crimea in the Ukraine,” she said.
Professional singers and musicians will showcase Ukrainian classics in four concerts.
“Each next generation born here in Australia assimilates to Australian culture and loses Ukrainian traditions,” Ms Pasechnikova said.
“It’s good to assimilate. But at the same time we need to keep the culture above the level of survival.”
The Ukrainian bandera – a 65-string cross between a violin and guitar – will feature.
“It’s quite heavy so it requires some physical ability as well,” Ms Pasechnikova said.
“It sounds closer to a piano than the guitar.
“When I hear bandera play it instantly transfers me into ancient times.”
The Hammond Gallery at the Victorian Artists Society, 430 Albert Street, East Melbourne, will host the Week of Ukrainian Culture.
Concerts will take place from 7pm to 8.30pm on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 June and from 2pm to 3.30pm on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 June.
The admission fee is $25 or $70 for two parents and two children.
Exhibition entry is free. It’ll be open from 10am to 4.30pm on Thursday and Friday, from noon to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday and from 10am to 4.30pm on Monday.
