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Maksym Malylio is a 26-year-old Ukrainian artist and a professor at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture. In his works, he mostly uses oil paints, but also uses tempera, acrylics, and watercolors. His professional career began when he started studying at the Art College of the Transcarpathian Art Institute of A. Erdeli, Uzhhorod. Now he works as a teacher. Since the age of 12, his works have been placed in private collections in Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, and even China.

“The Life of Ukrainian People” is a series of paintings that not only reflect the difficult stages of our history, but also show the soul and being of the Ukrainian people, which is filled with the desire for freedom, traditions, love for the native land and unshakable faith. Each stroke of paint carries a depth that pierces to the depths of the heart. This exhibition is not just a journey into the difficulties experienced by the past generation, but a true reflection of today’s generation. Our resilience, strength, and courage are a direct continuation of what happened decades ago with our ancestors, which makes the paintings unique.

The first painting, “The Milky Way,” shows a calm, measured Ukrainian life full of traditions, and the second painting, “Spring-33” makes you hold your breath. It depicts one of the most terrible pages of our history – the Genocide of the Ukrainian nation in 1932–1933. It is impossible to put it into words. The looks of the Holodomor victims pierce to the very soul and remind us of the importance of preserving memory, that these tragedies should remain in the memory of every Ukrainian.

“The Milky Way”

“Spring-33” photo by: Anna Hanchich

At first glance, the painting “Malanka” reflects the atmosphere of celebration and fun, but in my opinion, it has a deep meaning.

Personally, I saw not joy and celebration in the characters’ eyes, but a premonition of something inevitable and unavoidable.

Perhaps this is the artist’s attempt to show how the festive atmosphere hides anxiety and fear for the future.

However, some may perceive this work as a mere scene from a Ukrainian Christmas. In any case, the life of Ukrainians was full of both joyful moments and tragic events.;

Malanka” photo by: Anna Hanchich

“Hutsul Wedding” depicts a table, guests and a couple in the middle. Almost immediately, I noticed that the images next to the newlyweds are painted in a duller color, indicating the past and reflecting the spirits of ancestors and a connection to their roots. They are always there for us and ready to give us their support. The newlyweds indicate that, despite the events of the past, there is always a future.

“Hutsul Wedding”  photo by: Anna Hanchich

Painting “Memory.” The woman’s gaze carries indescribable pain, despair, loss and anger. The scene where she stands on the grave is clear — she has lost her husband, the father of her child. Despite this despair, she is forced to be strong for the sake of her child. Her tenderness and support for the baby seems to remind us that even in the darkest times, a mother’s love remains unbreakable. The war and the struggle for life have not spared our generation. I immediately remembered a passage from Taras Shevchenko’s poem “And Archimedes and Galileo…”:

“And on the renewed earth

There will be no enemy, no adversary,

But there will be a son and a mother,

And there will be people on the earth.”

“Memory” photo by: Anna Hanchich

“The Awakening” photo by: Anna Hanchich

His latest work “The Awakening” has truly become a symbol of the rebirth of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. With this title, Maxim wanted to remind us of the events that awakened us as a nation. The artist depicted a girl with a white flower in her hands and Azovstal behind her. The flower in the girl’s hands is a symbol of purity, hope and faith in the future.

I would like to express my gratitude to Maxim Malylyo for his incredible series of paintings and advise everyone to visit the National Museum “Kyiv Art Gallery” from 8.11.2024 to 1.12.2024 at 9 Tereshchenkivska Street, Kyiv, 01004.