Picturesque Guide to Ukraine
An original art project by Ukrainian artist Marina Stognieva
“To reveal the heart of every region of Ukraine through art.”
Crimea is a distinctive part of Ukraine where two seas, mountain peaks, sunlit valleys, vast steppes, rocky shores and secluded bays come together. Its landscapes seem to change before one’s eyes: sea horizons give way to winding mountain roads, vineyards merge into the dry grasses of the steppe, while cypresses and pine trees rise above a coastline filled with brilliant southern light.
The Black Sea and the Sea of Azov create a unique natural world around Crimea. There are high cliffs, natural arches, caves, pebble and sandy beaches, hidden coves and shores where the changing light continually transforms the colour of the water. In the morning, the sea may appear cool blue; during the day, it becomes dazzling with reflected sunlight; and by evening, it turns gold, pink and purple.
Crimea reveals itself not only through its landscapes. Its character lives in its people, traditions, architecture, the fragrances of southern gardens, the flavours of grapes, peaches and figs, its hospitality and the richness of Crimean Tatar culture. Here, nature, history, human labour and centuries of memory form a unique artistic whole.
In this chapter, Crimea appears as a land of sea and mountains, sun-ripened fruit, human faces, southern fragrances and memories that remain with a person for many years. It is a journey through painting, personal impressions and images that preserve the light of this region.
“Picturesque Guide to Ukraine” is an art project that brings together painting, personal memories, cultural stories and short original reflections about every region of Ukraine.
All the paintings presented in the project were created by Ukrainian artist Marina Stognieva. Through them, viewers discover the nature, architecture, traditions, people and distinctive atmosphere of different parts of the country.
Every region has its own face, colours, rhythm and character. Some places remain in the memory through the openness of their steppes, while others are remembered for mountain silhouettes, seashores, historic towns, gardens, rivers or the warmth of human stories.
The project is gradually becoming an extensive artistic journey through all the regions of Ukraine. In the future, the paintings and texts will be brought together in a book whose pages will allow readers to travel across the country through the eyes of the artist.
The Crimea chapter presents the peninsula through its sea, mountains, southern gardens, cultural heritage and personal memories that have gradually been transformed into painted images.
Personal Memories
I first saw Crimea when I was thirteen years old, when I travelled to Feodosia with my parents. That journey became a true discovery for me. I was amazed by the beauty and diversity of the peninsula, its unfamiliar landscapes, warm sea, mountain roads, brilliant sunlight and new flavours I had never experienced before.
After that first encounter, I returned to Crimea many times. Each journey revealed it in a new way: through the morning sea, walks along the promenades, journeys along winding mountain roads, old parks, southern gardens and small resort towns, each with its own distinctive character.
Alushta became especially close to my heart. In this town, the sea, mountains, green streets and a feeling of lightness came together — a feeling that arose during long walks along the coast. I loved watching the water, breathing in the sea air and seeing how the sunlight changed the colours of the sky and mountains.
Everything in Crimea seemed especially vivid: the blue of the sea, the warm colour of the rocks, the dark silhouettes of cypresses, white sails, ripe fruit in the markets and the evening light slowly dissolving above the water.
In my memory, Crimea will always remain the fragrance of flowers, the taste of Crimean wine, sun-ripened fruit and the fresh wind from the Black Sea. It was from these sensory impressions that the painted images of this land later began to emerge.
“In my memory, Crimea remains a brilliant sun above blue water, the fragrance of flowers, the taste of ripe fruit and a sea breeze that fills the space with a sense of freedom.”
Future Publication
The future book will bring together painting, personal memories, fascinating facts, cultural stories and atmospheric narratives about every region of Ukraine.
Each chapter will become a journey of its own, with its landscapes, faces, traditions, colours and stories that help readers experience the character of a particular region.
Crimea in Painting
In these works, Crimea is revealed through human figures, seascapes, rocks, cypresses, sunlit gardens and small natural treasures. Each painting preserves a distinct impression of the peninsula and becomes part of a larger painterly story about Ukraine.
Future Publication
Paintings from the Crimean cycle, dedicated to the sea, mountains, coastlines, gardens, human figures and cultural traditions.
Personal memories of the first journey to Feodosia, holidays in Alushta and other encounters with Crimea.
Short reflections on the peninsula’s nature, light, fragrances, flavours, people and inner atmosphere.
Cultural images and traditions connected with the Crimean Tatar people, local cuisine, gardening, viticulture and human labour.
A Personal Perspective
For me, Crimea begins with the sun illuminating the smooth surface of the sea in the morning and with blue water that changes its shades depending on the weather and the time of day. I remember the brilliant reflections on the waves and the silhouettes of ships and sailboats moving slowly along the horizon.
I remember pine trees and cypresses warmed by the southern sun, flowers along the promenades and mountain roads that revealed new landscapes around every bend. Crimea could be seen from above, in the vast space of the sea, mountains and towns nestled between cliffs and green slopes.
I remember the taste of ripe grapes, fruit and Crimean wine, as well as the fragrance of herbs, sea salt and sun-warmed earth. The flavours of Crimea are as important to me as its colours. They help me return to a particular moment and experience it almost physically.
Crimea lives not only in its nature, but also in the people who love their land, work upon it, cultivate vineyards and gardens, and preserve family recipes, crafts and traditions. A special place in the cultural image of the peninsula belongs to the Crimean Tatar people, for whom Crimea is their homeland, family memory and the heart of their culture.
In my paintings, I seek to convey Crimea through light, colour, southern air, human figures and personal memories. Painting allows me to preserve not only the appearance of a place, but also the feeling that arises when encountering it.
A Cultural Journey
Crimean cuisine developed at the crossroads of cultures, traditions and the peninsula’s natural abundance. It combines dishes made with meat, dough, vegetables, fish, aromatic herbs, fruit and grapes.
Crimean Tatar cuisine holds a particularly important place. Chebureki, yantyky, pilaf, sarma, lagman, meat dishes and vegetable dishes tell stories of hospitality, family traditions and recipes passed down from one generation to the next.
Gardens and vineyards give Crimea apricots, peaches, figs, grapes, apples and other sun-ripened fruit. In memory, they blend with the scent of the sea, the warmth of the evening air and unhurried conversations around the table.
Interesting Facts
The shores of Crimea are washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. They differ in depth, coastal character, water colour and natural landscapes.
Crimea’s natural landscape combines mountain ranges, vast steppes, rocky shores, caves, canyons, bays and valleys.
Crimea is the historical homeland of the Crimean Tatar people. Their language, music, ornaments, cuisine, crafts, family customs and cultural memory are an inseparable part of the peninsula’s identity.
The southern sun, slopes and local natural conditions contributed to the development of viticulture. Vineyards and winemaking became an important part of Crimea’s cultural and economic life.
Grapes, fruit trees, vegetables and aromatic plants have traditionally been cultivated in Crimea. Work in gardens, vineyards and on the land has shaped many local traditions.
Kara-Dag is known for its dramatic rocky landscapes. One of its most recognisable natural landmarks is the Golden Gate rock arch rising from the sea.
Explore Ukraine
Crimea is one of the chapters in a major art project dedicated to all the regions of Ukraine. Each new chapter reveals different landscapes, people, traditions, memories and painterly images.
The Next Page of the Journey
Continue the journey through the steppes of the Luhansk region, the banks of the Aidar River, Ukrainian villages and personal memories of the land where Marina Stognieva spent her childhood.
Visit the Luhansk Region“Picturesque Guide to Ukraine” is being developed as a long-term international art project that introduces the world to the culture, nature and stories of Ukraine through painting.
Marina Stognieva is open to collaboration with museums, cultural foundations, galleries, educational institutions, charitable organisations and private collectors who share the idea of promoting Ukrainian culture throughout the world.
Contact
For enquiries about supporting the project, collaboration, art projects, purchasing original paintings or ordering signed collectible art prints, please contact the artist directly.
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“I believe that art can not only preserve memory, but also help people discover and understand one another. That is why, through every painting, I seek to reveal the heart of the Ukrainian land to the world.”
Marina Stognieva
