Touching the soul: sculptures by Hrekivka exhibited in Odesa

The Artodesa Gallery of the Summer Theater of the City Garden has dedicated the exhibition "Sculpture. Time. Memory" to the 160th anniversary of the Odesa Art College named after Grekov.

This was reported by an Intent correspondent.

The mother of the sculptor Taras Shevchenko, who collaborated with the Tuzly Estuaries National Park, was a military sculptor and recently died due to health reasons, also attended the event and spoke about her son's work.

The exhibition presents the works of teachers, alumni and students of the educational institution. The works are made of a wide variety of materials - stone, metal, clay, plaster, wood, and polymer.

Photo: Intent

It should be noted that this is the second time the exhibition has been held at the Artodesa Gallery. For the first time, the project "Hrekivka. Sculpture" began on February 15, 2022 and was interrupted by the outbreak of war, lasting only one week.

Photo: Intent

"This time, the project features more than 50 sculptures - unique and diverse works that give an idea of current trends in Ukrainian art. And also, perhaps, in the near future, they will be embodied in the creation of art objects and sculptures in the urban environment of our city," the Odesa City Hall noted.

Photo: Intent

The history of Hrekivka is represented by the names of sculptors Luigi Iorini, Borys Edwards, Petro Metkovitser, Ivan Paolini, Yakiv Brodsky, Joseph Mormone, Emil Boschi, Yakiv Borchenko, Mykhailo Petrosyan, Ivan Parovychenko, who taught and also created works of art.

Many names of sculptors are associated with the Greek College: Anton Chubin, Mykola Stepanov, Volodymyr Turta, Oleksii Kopiov, William Golkov, Tetiana Kozhevnikova, Myron Kipnis, Felya Falchuk, Taisiia Sudiina, Kim Lytvak, Ilya Eloushvili, Mykola Yeremenko, Kostiantyn Patrov, Ilarion Stadnik, Yevhen Chumak, Liudmyla Kolesnyk, Oleksandr Shmukler, Petro Kravchenko, Oleksandr Veriovka, Alik Perekhrestov, Kateryna Boichuk, Neonila Dobrianska, Larysa Kondrashova, Boris Belov, Tatiana Bondarchuk, Boris Rumyantsev, Vladimir Tratskov, Igor Savitsky, Alexander Koval, Mikhail Naruzetsky, Zoya Lomikina, Mikhail Zorin, Valery Sereda, Ivan Kozodoev, Petro Borysiuk, Nikolai Khudoliy, Pavel Shestopalov, Victor Tyblevich, Klim Stepanov, Oleg Novayev, Vasya Dmitryk, Taisiya Kapustarynskaya, and many, many others.

It should be noted that the exhibition features works by Taras Shevchenko, who, before the full-scale war, made three sculptures for the Tuzly Estuaries National Park: a large pelican, a Scythian woman, and a groundhog that welcomes visitors to the Tuzly Amazon. Intent wrote about the artist, but it is worth reminding you that when the invasion began, he volunteered for service. According to his mother, his first health problems began there. He was declared partially fit and sent to work in a recruiting center, and then to Kherson. He left the unit without permission to receive medical treatment. Shevchenko died due to his health in March 2025.

"Son, you are remembered. People are interested in your work. People want to see your works. 160 years to your favorite Hrekivka," the sculptor's mother Liudmyla wrote on her Facebook page.

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Works by Taras Shevchenko "Dancing" and "Hutsul". Collage: Intent

The college teachers offered the family to present two of Taras's works at the exhibition - the sculptures "Hutsul" and "Dancing".
At the opening, Liudmyla Shevchenko said that she "was able to touch the soul of her child." She also said that it is proposed to make a personal exhibition of his sculptures.

It should be noted that many of Hrekovka's former students are now in the Armed Forces. For example, the exhibition features Klim Stepanov's work Wind. There is also a work by his father, known to Odessans for his sculpture "Petya and Gavryk", by Mykola Stepanov "Centaur "Borka". By the way, it is not for sale.

"The Odesa School of Sculpture pays tribute to tradition and at the same time continues to surprise with new, unexpected, modern solutions," summarized art critic and gallery director Kateryna Pimenova.

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