Olya Tkachenko
Contemporary Folklore & Monumental Heritage Art
Fine Art & Collections
My public practice focuses on the intersection of architectural space and cultural memory. By scaling traditional Ukrainian folklore techniques—such as Vytynanka and decorative sculpture—into large-format installations, I aim to transform civic environments into sites of storytelling. Each project is a site-specific exploration of heritage, designed to engage the community and honor the resilience of our collective identity.
Textile Art
Hot Batiks
Hot batik is a sophisticated painting technique that utilizes hot, melted wax as a resist medium combined with layered liquid dyes. While the origins of batik are rooted in the master traditions of Indonesia, the spirit of this technique has a deep, centuries-old history in Ukraine through the art of Pysanka (Easter Egg wax-resist).
My work bridges these traditions. The process is a meditation on patience, requiring multiple cycles of applying hot wax and immersion in dye to build complexity and depth. By translating the symbolic language of Ukrainian folklore onto flowing textiles, I transform a decorative craft into a contemporary narrative medium. Each piece is a unique dialogue between the unpredictability of liquid color and the precision of the wax line.
Narrative Art and Paintings
This collection serves as an intersection between ancient spiritual truths and cultural memory. My narrative paintings are informed by two deep wells of inspiration: Biblical archetypes and Ukrainian folklore.
I explore the resonance of sacred scripture through a modern lens, reimagining timeless parables and Christian symbols to speak to the contemporary human condition. These works are not merely illustrations, but meditations on faith, sacrifice, and the eternal. By weaving these theological threads together with the symbolic language of my heritage, I aim to create 'modern icons'—pieces that invite the viewer into a quiet dialogue with the sacred and the historical.
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Narrative illustration
This collection of works on paper explores the delicate intersection of nature and folklore. Some of these pieces were created for various literary and publishing projects. These illustrations serve as a bridge between folklore and the printed page, focusing on the atmospheric details of forest lore and traditional storytelling. While originally developed as commissioned narratives, these pieces represent my foundational exploration of character and cultural symbolism. They are presented here as a record of my graphic practice and my ongoing collaboration with the world of contemporary literature.
