Civic activists ask Nyshchuk to award artist Ivan Marchuk a lifetime scholarship

The non-governmental organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” took the initiative to grant the world-famous Ukrainian artist Ivan Marchuk a lifetime scholarship from the President of Ukraine. The corresponding letter was addressed to the Minister of Culture of Ukraine Yevhen Nyschuk.

“Dear Yevgeny Mykhailovych, we were forced to contact you by a question regarding living conditions, the work of an outstanding artist, and the preservation of his creative heritage. So, despite his respectable age (in May 2016, the artist turned 80 years old), he climbs every day to the fifth floor of the attic in an old building without an elevator, without elementary communal facilities, where his workshop is located, which is poorly adapted for work (there is no hot water supply, proper heating, the roof leaks). It becomes inconvenient to even invite foreign colleagues to such a room, who are increasingly coming to Ukraine with one goal – to meet the author of world-famous masterpieces,” the letter says.

According to public activists, such conditions are simply not acceptable for the work of Ivan Marchuk, because the artist creates a positive image of Ukraine in the world.

The Ministry reacted to such an initiative quite quickly. Noting that they will certainly consider Mitsya’s candidacy for a lifetime scholarship.

Now you need to submit an application and collect the necessary documents.

Ivan Marchuk is a laureate of the Taras Shevchenko National Award, Honorary Citizen of the Cities of Kyiv and Ternopil, artist Ivan Marchuk. Articles about the Ukrainian artist were included in the world’s most authoritative encyclopedias, and his creative method “Plontanism” was included in the textbooks of academic art institutions.

In recent years, Ivan Marchuk’s canvases have been constantly exhibited in exhibition and museum spaces in Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Jordan, Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey, Thailand, and Tunisia. In September 2016, they impressed the deputies and visitors of the European Parliament (Brussels). Everywhere – sure success and admiration, recognition of the genius of the artist and the European essence of the state that gives birth to such talents.

And this colossal work continues: now the artist is preparing for exhibitions at the Royal Cultural Center of Jordan, “FolkArt” gallery in the city of Izmir, the Abbey Museum in the city of Luxembourg and continues to create new masterpieces.

Exhibition of works by Ivan Marchuk in Jordan

In the Royal Cultural Center of Amman, in the Holy Land of Jordan, on the eve of Easter, the exhibition of the world-famous Ukrainian artist Ivan Marchuk “Voice of my soul” opened.

About 50 canvases of six creative cycles (out of twelve created by the artist during his creative life) are presented to visitors of the prestigious cultural institution of this unique Muslim country. Spectators were undisguisedly delighted by the hyper-realistic landscapes, especially the winter ones: whole generations of Jordanians had never seen snow, so for many it was the first encounter with the classic winter of the northern latitudes. The abstract surrealist canvases of the artist from the cycles “Tired Melody”, “Voice of my Soul”, sophisticated graphics from the series “New Expressions” were no less admired. The Muslim tradition has its own strict canons, but the eternal themes of human existence, raised by the Ukrainian artist, were close to the inhabitants of the East, the technical expression of meaningful compositions delighted the audience.

Nabig Shokum, Minister of Culture of the country, assisted in the organization and opened the exhibition. Ambassador of Ukraine to Jordan Serhiy Pasko delivered a welcome speech. It was thanks to Serhiy Oleksiyovych that an artistic event of this level became possible in this Middle Eastern country. It should be added that the diplomatic institution headed by him constantly and persistently creates a positive image of our country in Amman. There is Taras Shevchenko Street, the Ukrainian-Jordanian Friendship Square, where all the trees were brought from Ukraine and took root, it seemed, on quite favorable soil. At this time, a lilac blooms in the park, causing surprise among the Arabs and special feelings among our compatriots, of whom there are about five thousand living in Jordan today. By the way, thanks to our diplomats, Ukrainian women united in the “Ukrainian House in Jordan” community, which enables them not only to communicate, but also to create an interesting page of Ukrainian culture: poets, composers, and artists appeared among the female emigrants. Yes, the name of the poet Victoria Abakadum is already widely known in Ukraine. She is the mother of five children and teaches them all Ukrainian.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by politicians, government officials, diplomats of countries accredited in Amman, and numerous journalists. Ivan Marchuk, in an interview with the central channel of Jordanian TV, noted that culture is the face of the country, and it is precisely such activities that help build strong bridges between peoples. He expressed confidence that the exhibition will allow a better understanding of Ukraine and give it sincere and reliable friends.

The NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” acted as a project partner and provided informational support.