Rushnyk. Art, grief & loss

Abstract

This bachelor thesis creates an intersection of traditional Ukrainian textile art and contemporary social issues through three scarves, or Rushnyky, each symbolising a current Ukrainian tragedy: grief, displacement, and the Kakhovka Dam disaster. These scarves, designed with reconstructed traditional patterns, integrate digital technology through QR codes that lead to animations and statistical data on each theme.

The “Rushnyk of Grief” uses somber colours to evoke mourning, the “Rushnyk of Displacement” features fragmented patterns symbolising disrupted lives, and the “Rushnyk of Kakhovka” depicts chaos and environmental devastation. This project combines heritage and modern media to raise awareness, preserve cultural identity, and comment on the fickle empathy of the West, which often turns others' suffering into micro-trends.