The set of characters was developed for postcards and posters series produced by Dyvovyzhni NGO. Each character represents and addresses residents of a particular Ukrainian region with distinctive cultural traditions. Every image is supplemented with the message that encompasses NGO's agenda, namely the advancement and empowerment of civil society at the level local communities. The unique traits of every original character must make him or her relatable to the audience and consequently enhance the understanding and strengthen the message support.
Dyvovyzhni NGO and Kateryna Meleshchuk have the exclusive right to the characters and text featured in this project. You may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this page, including files downloadable from this page, without the explicit written permission of the copyright owner.
Rights associated with imagery used as mood-board examples (and respectively marked) belong to their rightful owners.
Carpathian lumberjack/ Hutsul
Hutsuls are an ethnic group residing in parts of western Ukraine and Romania. They have distinct dialect and culture: colourful and intricate architecture, woodworking and metalworking techniques, rug weaving practices, pottery, and embroidery. Along with other Hutsul traditions, there is also a classical image of a hutsul: a great host, who is laid back but also wise and well-organised.
moodboard, process, fragments
Odessan dandy
The culture of Odessa is a unique blend of Russian, Yiddish, and Ukrainian traditions. The region and its residents became an inherent part of Ukrainian folklore. A beautiful city on the Black sea coast is widely known as “the capital of humour.”
Poltava femme fatale/ Solokha
Poltava is a crucial historical land- mark, praised in classic Ukrainian literature.
One of the most vivid characters originating from the region was Solokha, a powerful witch of extra-ordinary beauty and explosive strong character.
moodboard and fragments
Kyiv Teddy Boy
Kyiv has always been a cosmopolitan city that has known influence of Western culture and Russian empire. Though, Kyiv has always preserved its own vivid and unique cultural identity that doesn't translate to any other context. This phenomenon was captured and translated into literature by the renowned Ukrainian author Ivan Nechuy-Levytsky. The protagonist of his most popular novel is representative of a Kyivan subculture analogous to 50s Brithish Teddy Boys, which had  a very distinctive style and slang.
The Mighty Cossak
Zaporizhia is a city on a Dniper river that is a home to Khortytsia Island, a former Cossack stronghold with the Khortytsia National Reserve. It is known now for the open-air Museum of Zaporizhian Cossacks.  Cossacks were a group of people who formed democratic, self-governing, semi-military communities. Hence,the best character to represent the region would be a wise and experienced Cossak who reserves military paradigm and calls to use talent,  imagination and creativity rather than adversity and confrontation.
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