Original artwork description:

The portrait of a Ukrainian bride is dated to the 1930s of the 20th century. When I saw this old photo, I was struck by the depth of her gaze, concentration and at the same time tenderness. I painted this portrait with oil paints on the background of Ukrainian embroidered ornament.
In the previous painting, "Ukrainian Bride", this embroidery looks like roots, a gift from ancestors.
In this painting, I depicted the embroidery over the girl's face - and the young Ukrainian woman became like a warrior woman who painted her face with protective signs. Moreover, the red and black on the girl's face resemble blood. And the third association: the embroidery in the painting symbolizes the force that has been dormant for centuries deep in the people's memory, and during the war rose up and became visible. This is her armor from the enemy. Roots, national heritage, Ukrainian identity in times of threat become a force that defends and protects. This is how all of us Ukrainians look now. This is a portrait of our souls in times of war.

The paintings "Ukrainian Bride" and "Ukrainian Bride: Armor" form a thematic diptych.

Materials used:

oil, canvas, brushes

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