Still Life. Cossack Song 1980

Editor: So, this is Volodymyr Bondarenko’s “Still Life. Cossack Song” from 1980, painted with oils. It’s so vibrant. I’m immediately drawn to the bright flowers, but the background scenes are just as striking. How do you interpret this work, considering the cultural themes? Curator: The “Cossack Song” resonates through layers of cultural memory. Note how Bondarenko doesn't just depict a still life, but layers it with symbolic representations of Cossack heritage. The flowers, bursting with life, act as a powerful emblem. They seem to bloom forth from a historical narrative represented by the tapestry or mural behind. Editor: I see what you mean. It’s almost like the flowers are growing out of history itself. How does the artist use symbols to create this impression? Curator: Consider the recurring presence of musicians. Look at the figures within the tapestry, armed and on horseback. Music, weaponry, horses—they’re persistent motifs throughout Cossack history. Now, look at how Bondarenko positions the vases and how the colours are very saturated – do you feel any emotional quality rises to the surface for you? Editor: I do, actually! There’s a sense of longing or a call back to simpler times of rich culture when reading into the symbolism. It almost suggests that these historical and symbolic stories exist within our memory of such things. Thank you so much, I hadn't even considered those details before! Curator: My pleasure. Recognizing these symbols allows us to access the artist’s and collective unconscious—it provides a deeper understanding of the work. This work is so fascinating.