Learn the art of Ukrainian vytynanka with Lidiia Solodar and Inna Ilina

The course is inspired by the work of Lidiia Solodar — a Ukrainian artist, professional art educator, and member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, whose life and creative work beautifully unite tradition, education, and family.

Earlier this year, visitors to the Spring Festival at Shibaura House had the opportunity to encounter Lidiia Solodar's work for the first time in Japan through the introductory exhibition "The Life Tree", which opened the exhibition series "She Creates Ukraine — Art in Cultural Dialogue with Japan." The series is dedicated to contemporary Ukrainian women artists who continue to create, teach, and preserve cultural heritage despite the challenges brought by war.

Living in Chyhyryn, the historical heart of Ukrainian culture, Lidiia Solodar is not only an accomplished artist but also the mother of four children, the youngest born in 2025. Alongside raising her family, she continues to create new artworks, teach traditional Ukrainian arts, develop educational programs, and deepen her own study of Ukrainian folk traditions. Through online master classes and active communication with artists around the world, she shares Ukrainian cultural heritage far beyond the country's borders.

Her artistic language centers on vytynanka, the traditional Ukrainian art of paper cutting. Through carefully balanced symmetry, flowing branches, birds, flowers, and geometric ornaments, her works tell stories about family, faith, learning, renewal, and the continuity of generations. In their clarity and minimalism, these works also echo the aesthetic sensitivity of Japanese traditions such as kirigami and katagami, creating an unexpected harmony between the artistic languages of the two cultures.

Building upon this cultural exchange, Ukraine House Japan is delighted to launch its Yearly Vytynanka Course, developed under the artistic guidance of Lidiia Solodar.

All designs and creative assignments for the course have been specially prepared by Lidiia Solodar, allowing participants in Japan to learn directly from authentic contemporary Ukrainian artistic tradition while progressing step by step throughout the year.

The classes in Japan will be led by Inna Ilina, who will guide participants through each project using Lidiia Solodar's original designs and teaching methodology.

The course consists of one lesson each month over the course of one year, gradually introducing participants to traditional techniques, composition, symbolism, and increasingly sophisticated paper-cutting skills. Throughout the year, students will create a complete collection of works reflecting the rich heritage of Ukrainian decorative art.

The program will conclude with a final exhibition, where participants will have the opportunity to present the works they have created during the course.

Each participant who successfully completes the full one-year program and participates in the final exhibition will receive a commemorative Course Completion Certificate, marking their journey into the traditional art of Ukrainian vytynanka and celebrating their dedication to preserving and sharing this beautiful cultural heritage.