The story of one restorer

“We used to work at the military unit before. There was no electricity, water or central heating. That is why now we are really lucky and satisfied with the conditions” says Ms. Restorer and pushes bucket under the dark stain of rain on the ceiling. “Be careful, it may fall down any moment”, says she to us.

Premises, which were courteously given to the State Scientific Center on Cultural Heritage Protection from Man-made Catastrophes, resemble more a long-forgotten cemetery of wooden household items, but for scientific co-workers of the museum department, who despite the leaking sealing and cold continue their work. And one thing more – those wooden items are not simply wooden items. The masterpieces of vanishing Polishyuk`s folk culture - the ethnic group that inhabited Polissya before the terrible and insatiable nuclear power plant took everything away from these people – their territory, huts, gardens, their homelands, their traditions and culture, which dates back to the silver haired ancient times. Dozens of wooden barrels and stupas, zhaks for fishers and authentic boats; hundreds of rushnyks (traditional decorated towels), boshnyks (special wooden shelf for holly icons), holly icons and paintings…and traditional Ukrainian chests. Dozens of diverse chests, which restores our new friend. She talks enthusiastically about her work and almost by force (although no one resists) wants to show us "before and after" pictures of her work.

The Project “Sustainable Development of Local Communities through the Actualization of Cultural Heritage” financed by the EU despite all obstacles and overcoming insurmountable bureaucratic jungles, finally begins to repair the premises for permanent exhibition of Polissya folk culture and fund storage, in which no one poses buckets to stop rain from the ceiling, which will have shelves and air conditioning. Exhibition will give all those wonderful folk culture masterpieces their own special place, exhibition where you can come and be proud of own culture and heritage. This exhibition will enable us if not renew, but preserve the memory of our common heritage.

Find more on the Project’s web page.