Lidiia Solodar. The Life Tree

This spring, visitors of the Spring Festival at Shibaura House will have the first opportunity to encounter the art of Ukrainian artist Lidiia Solodar, whose works open the exhibition series “Вона творить Україну / She Creates Ukraine — Art in Cultural Dialogue with Japan.”

The project “She Creates Ukraine” is conceived as a series of exhibitions dedicated to contemporary Ukrainian women artists who continue to create even during the difficult years of war. While supporting their families, raising children, and sustaining daily life, these women preserve spiritual balance through art and pass cultural knowledge to the next generation. Their work is not only artistic expression, but also a form of service to culture, education, and society.

The first exhibition of the series is devoted to Lidiia Solodar, a Ukrainian artist, professional art educator, and member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, who lives in Chyhyryn, the historical heart of Ukrainian culture.

In her life and work, tradition, education, and motherhood come together as three sources of cultural continuity. Lidiya is the mother of four children, the youngest of whom was born in 2025. Despite the demands of caring for a large family, she continues to create new works, teach traditional Ukrainian arts, and share her knowledge with students around the world.

Through what might seem like small daily miracles of dedication and discipline, Lidiia develops video master classes and educational courses, teaches vytinanka (traditional Ukrainian paper-cut art), pysanka (decorated Easter eggs), and art history, and creates artworks for exhibitions. She also studies traditional Ukrainian crafts herself, continually deepening her understanding of cultural heritage. Through her active presence on Facebook and Instagram, she maintains connections with Ukrainian artists worldwide and supports the global artistic community.

The central theme of her exhibition is “The Life Tree — Roots of Continuity and Development.” In Ukrainian tradition, the tree of life symbolizes the connection between generations, harmony between heaven and earth, spiritual strength, and the continuity of life itself.

Each of Lidiia’s five vytinanka compositions tells a story — about family, inheritance, learning, faith, and renewal.

For the artist, the tree of life is not only a visual symbol but also a reflection of her own life path:

• as a mother, she nurtures and gives life;

• as a teacher, she passes knowledge and values to new generations;

• as an artist, she grows new branches of Ukrainian culture.

In Japanese culture, the image of a tree also symbolizes harmony, resilience, and unity with nature. Because of this shared symbolism, the theme naturally creates a connection between Ukrainian and Japanese cultural perspectives.

The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on a simple yet profound idea: even in times of destruction, life continues. It grows, develops, and renews itself — like a tree whose roots deepen with every challenge.

The works presented in this series are created using vytinanka, the traditional Ukrainian art of paper cutting. Through rhythmic symmetry and carefully balanced forms, branches and birds appear as symbols of life, peace, 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.

The Spring Festival presentation at Shibaura House will offer the first glimpse into Lidiya Solodar’s artistic world and introduce the concept of the future exhibition dedicated to her work.