“The Power of Roots”: Olga Rapai-Markish’s restored panels return to the viewer
In the summer of 2023, the National Museum of Ukrainian Folk Decorative Art presented the second part of the project “The Power of Fragility,” which was called “The Power of Roots.” This stage was dedicated to the monumental panels of Olga Rapai-Markish — interior ceramics created in the 1980s, which for a long time remained inaccessible to the viewer and were considered lost.
The panels, in particular “Princess Olga”, “Sirin Bird”, “Knight” and others, were created on the wave of interest in historical and mythological images - deep symbols that embody the idea of Ukrainian identity and collective memory. After several years of decline and oblivion, these works were preserved, restored and for the first time collected together in the museum space.
Curator Oksana Tsyganok (Association of Art Critics, Experts, Appraisers and Restorers of Ukraine) emphasized the technical complexity and artistic value of the works. The team of restorers developed a special method of mounting, fastening and exhibiting ceramic compositions. The attribution and profile restoration lasted for over a year.
The exhibition was conceived as an antithesis to the first part of the project - “The Power of Support”, which was about the ties between sister cities. In “The Power of Roots”, the emphasis is on the inner soil of culture — origins, symbols, history.
In addition to the exhibition, the project included master classes, lectures, and curatorial excursions, which allowed us to delve deeper into the legacy of Olga Rapai-Markish and Ukrainian decorative art in general. Particular attention was paid to the topic of preserving cultural heritage — another eloquent reminder of the importance of supporting national memory.
“The Power of Roots” is not just an exhibition. It is an act of return, restoration, and honor. The project proves that even fragile things can have deep and unbreakable roots.
