This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the regional competition “Palette of Podillia” named after Liudmyla and Mykola Mazurs.

          It was founded by Bohdan Telenko (chief editor of the newspaper “Podillia”) in 2000 year to honor the memory of the famous and talented artist from Khmelnytskyi. Liudmyla Mazur. When she passed away, she was only 53 years old (1947-2000) but we remember her as an incredibly talented artist. Inspired by the folk art, Liudmyla not only discovered the new direction of modern art, but also raised the art of “vytynanka” (paper cutting) to a new professional level. The “vytynanka” technique appeared ages ago but L. Mazur’s artworks have modern forms and figurative meanings. In this combination of ancient and modern hides the true talent of the artist and that’s why L. Mazur Is deserve to be remembered and well known.

          The exhibition of artworks of the Khmelnytskyi art school’s students takes place in Khmelnytskyi regional Art Museum in November annually. Since it was founded it was the public competition for Liudmyla Mazur award. In 2015 by the decision of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council the status of the competition was changed to a regional children’s competition of the young artists “Palette of Podillia” named after Liudmyla Mazur. Since 2016 it’s the Regional Art Contest “Palette of Podillia” named after Liudmyla and Mykola Mazur. Mykola Mazur (Born in 1948, passed away in 2015) – people’s artist of Ukraine, artist-monumentalist, painter, graphic artist, pedagogue. You should look for the source of his talent in the traditional folk arts (embroidery, painting, “vytynanka”). The folklore color and deep metaphorical content of his paintings appeared after his close contact with the Ukrainian folk art. Even artworks full of despair and sorrow, tragic and dramatic events are still translating positive emotions, as folk paintings and icons do. There are numerous sculptures and the dimensional compositions, which were presented to our city by M. Mazur. There are 35 artworks of L. Mazur and 34 artworks of M. Mazur in our museum’s collection.

          Since 2017, the competition has been held in two stages. The first stage is for children 6-9, 10-12 and 13-16 years old. There are three winners in each category. In the second stage of the competition took part young artists from 17 to 25 years old. There is one winner in the each of the four categories: painting, graphic artwork, sculpture and decorative and applied arts work.

               This year, for consideration of the first round we received 227 artworks from 189 artists from 16 art schools of the Khmelnytskyi region (Khmelnytskyi, Volochysk, Derazhnya, Dunaivtsi, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Netishyn, Polonne, Starokostiantyniv, Oleshyn, Slavuta, Chemerivtsi, Shepetivka.

          A respected and experienced jury consisting of artists, art historians, representatives of the authorities and the press had hard time choosing the 9 winners of the first round. Maksym Pavlovych (Khmelnytskyi Children’s School of Fine and Decorative Arts), Anna Vasylchuk, Karina Kryshtof (Khmelnytskyi Children’s Art School), Veronika Vidlatska (Volochysk Children’s Art School), Ivan Taushan (Khmelnytskyi Children’s Music School No. 3), Leonid Kitsak (Kamenets-Podilskyi city children’s art school), Kateryna Statkevych (Netishyn Specialized school of Art “Netishyn city Art School”), Ivanna Vilbitska (Shepetivka Children’s Art School), Arianna Babanian (Derazhnya regional children’s art school) are the winners.

          In the second round, 28 artists presented their 30 artworks. The winners are: In the nomination “Painting” – Prysiazhna Yiliia (Khmelnytskyi National University); in the nomination “Graphic artworks” – Pidgorna Anastasiia (Kamianets-Podilskyi Ivan Ohiienko National University); in the nomination “Decorative and applied arts” – Matviichuk Anna (State educational institution “Podilskyi Center of Vocational and Technical Education”); there were no participants in the “Sculpture” nomination.

          All works are bright, warm, joyful and filled with philosophical content. They are featured by its individuality, honesty and naivety. The artworks of magical animals and various fairy-tale heroes embody children’s dreams and fantasies. Each artwork is cheerful, encouraging and sharing a good mood with the viewer. It takes you back to a bright and carefree childhood.

Ludmyla Skoverko

Researcher of the Khmelnytskyi

Regional Art Museum