Artistic Heritage of Polina Raiko in the Space of Modern Culture: Relevant Ideas and Projects

Abstract

The article is devoted to the unique wall paintings in the estate-museum of Polina Raiko in the town of Oleshky in Kherson region, which has been damaged and destroyed significantly by high water as a result of the criminal detonation of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in June 2023 by Russian troops. The flooding of the artistic heritage of Polina Raiko has actualized a number of problems related to the loss of cultural monuments in the conditions of the latest challenges, caused a deep rethinking of the visual experience of naive art in modern realities. Many scholars have written about P. Raiko’s unique house wall paintings. However, a profound scientific analysis of the significance of naive art in the modern cultural space of Ukraine, in the relationship between traditional and modern, in the aspect of preserving the artistic heritage in the conditions of the latest challenges, has not been carried out. Polina Raiko’s naive painting, despite the expressive authoress’s style, lack of professional background, creative autonomy in relation to the socio-cultural tradition of a certain center, retains genetic kinship with ritual folk culture. The deep connections between the artist’s wall paintings and the traditional visual practices of the South of Ukraine, manifested in a special world view, ornamental structures, motifs and painting techniques are investigated in the article. A number of current projects and artistic events in the space of modern culture has been inspired by wall paintings of P. Raiko. In this context, a review of the high-profile exhibitions of 2023 – «Polina Raiko. Disappearing» and «Special Operation “To Destroy Paradise”» aimed at supporting her house, restoration of creative heritage, mutilated during the Russian-Ukrainian war, is submitted.