At the Central House of Artists, the exhibition “Children – Tree of Life” is taking place — a project that not only unites artists from across the country but also creates a new space for conversation about Ukrainian identity. This is not just an event, but a space where archetypes, modernity, and spiritual depth intersect. And in this combination, something is born that goes beyond a traditional exhibition.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Right at the entrance, the main idea is felt: here, the child is not an image created for emotional effect. This is a fundamental symbol that stretches from pagan beliefs to today’s realities, where the future trajectory of the country depends on every child. In folk culture, the child represents a beginning, a golden sprout that appears on the family tree. This is an image of an invisible force that grows in every generation and passes on what makes us Ukrainians.
For this reason, the central metaphor of the exhibition has become the Tree of Life — a universal image through which the people see themselves in time. Its roots are our ancestors; the trunk is modernity with all its challenges; the crown is what is still forming in the hearts of our children. This symbolic structure supports the entire exhibition: not illustratively, not decoratively, but as a philosophical foundation.
The artists have approached this theme with remarkable maturity. Each piece is not just a plot or composition, but an intellectual interpretation of the idea of life that continues despite everything. In the halls, there are paintings, graphics, sculptures, and decorative-applied objects that impress with the depth of visual thinking. There is no frivolity or superficial imagery here. On the contrary: the artists delve into meanings that cannot be expressed in a single sentence.
In the paintings, light serves as the energy of growth. Sometimes it explodes against a backdrop of dramatic colors, sometimes it penetrates the form from within, creating a sense of the presence of something invisible yet powerful. In the graphics, there are thin, thoughtful lines that speak more about the emotional state than about the depicted reality. In the sculpture, the embodied strength of the material reminds us of the human spirit’s ability to survive even where it seems there is no room for growth.
Many works create an impression of internal movement. Not external dynamics, but a development that occurs deep within human experience. The artists portray childhood as a form of worldview — pure, defenseless, yet elusive and strong. In this strength, there is no loudness, but there is a depth that holds the gaze and does not let go.
The project clearly shows how contemporary Ukrainian artists are working with the theme of the future. They are not detached from reality — on the contrary, their works are filled with dialogue with the present time. But the main thing is the ability to create a space where hope sprouts. Not naive or superficial, but hard-earned, acquired, and understood.
“Children – Tree of Life” is a reminder that culture forms the internal support of the nation. And it is through the image of the child that we feel the most honest, least distorted truth about ourselves. This exhibition does not provide simple answers — it poses questions that each person must live through independently. About roots. About responsibility. About what we leave behind.
Until December 7, the Central House of Artists becomes a place where art is not just displayed — it engages in conversation with everyone who enters the hall. And this conversation gives birth to the most important thing: the understanding that our future is already being shaped. It looks at us through the eyes of the children depicted in these paintings. And it is up to us how their Tree of Life will grow.
Information partner: “OKSAMYT. Velvet Art” (https://art.oksamyt.org/) – a Ukrainian art publication about artists from Ukraine.