Pysanky for Peace: An art installation supporting newcomer Ukrainian artists

The fourth annual Pysanky for Peace art exhibit is now on display at Kingsway Mall, running until May 5. Featuring 12 oversized, hand painted Ukrainian Easter eggs the exhibit celebrates both tradition and hope.

Each egg is a tribute to the centuries-old art of Pysanky, delicately decorated eggs, adorned with
intricate designs, an array of styles and vivid colours.

All 12 eggs were painted by local female artists who fled the war in Ukraine and have since found refugee in Edmonton. One of the artists is Viktoriia Baranik, who arrived all by herself in Canada on June 26, 2022.

“This Pysanky is a reflection of Ukrainian culture and tradition — the art of decorating eggs for Easter. I painted a snake on this egg — a symbol of transformation, power, and intensity. For me, it represents a year full of energy, growth, and strength,” said Baranik.

For Baranik and the other artists involved, creating these Pysanky has been a powerful way to express their emotions during difficult times.

“Being part of the Ukrainian community here and keeping these traditions alive means a lot.”

“The art can look really different depending on what part of Ukraine you’re from. Everyone has their own designs. Everyone has their own symbology that they put on the eggs, their own colours, even their own ways of doing them. But generally speaking, the egg, you know, is a sign of rebirth and renewal,” said Bo Tarasenko, the marketing manager at Kingsway Mall.

“That’s why it comes out in spring. That’s why it’s so big and Easter. It’s this idea of like something new coming out, something reborn. And I think that’s a very powerful image for Ukraine right now.”

According to the UNHCR, over 6.3 million refugees have fled Ukraine since 2022, with more than 200,000 Ukrainians resettling in Canada under emergency immigration programs. Art initiatives like Pysanky for Peace not only provide a creative outlet for newcomers but also foster community healing and intercultural understanding.

Pysanky for Peace by Katie Wallace

“With people coming to Edmonton for the first time, they don’t really know where to go or who to talk to. They don’t feel quite at home. So the idea that they would go someplace and see some little bit of home or some little bit of their culture being celebrated, just to make them feel all the more welcome and maybe, you know, put a little bit of joy in their lives that are very tough time.”

The Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts will be selling the Pysanky after the exhibit closes on May 5, will all of the proceeds going directly to the artists.

---

Comments