The statues of the child founders of Kyiv have been dressed in Trypillian attire
In Kyiv, ahead of City Day and Trinity Sunday, the sculptures of the city’s founding deities—Kyiv, Shchek, Khoriv, and Lybid—were dressed in stylized Trypillian costumes. The creator of the sculpture installation on Poshtova Square unveiled the characters’ new festive look and highlighted the rich history of Ukrainian lands. Volodymyr Zhuravel, the creator of the sculpture installation on Poshtova Square, posted photos of the event on Facebook.
Festive Kyiv received another symbolic touch this time—the well-known sculptures of the city’s founders on Poshtova Square have once again changed their appearance, this time appearing in stylized Trypillian attire that combines modern art with references to one of the oldest cultures on the territory of Ukraine. The author of the composition, Volodymyr Zhuravel, explained that the tradition of dressing the figures for the holidays has been going on for several years now, and this time the images of the Trypillian culture were chosen, which he called one of the most vibrant civilizations of ancient Europe, existing as far back as the Eneolithic and Copper Ages.
According to the sculptor, the Trypillian culture left a significant mark on the development of crafts, agriculture, and urban planning, and its traces in modern-day Kyiv and the Kyiv region remain an important part of Ukraine’s archaeological heritage, which was first systematically studied by Vikentiy Khvoyka in the late 19th century.
Zhuravel emphasized: “We must remember that Kyiv has a very ancient history and that we are the descendants of ancient civilizations that existed on the territory of Ukraine,” highlighting the connection between the modern city and its deep historical roots.
He also noted that the costumes for the sculptures were created by Kateryna Zhuravel, using motifs from Trypillian pottery and historical reconstructions, and the wreaths were made from branches that had fallen after a storm, so no trees were harmed specifically for this purpose.
Other artisans also contributed to the details: Yaroslav Gonchar created the ceramic elements based on archaeological finds from Kyrylivska Street in Kyiv, while Oleksa and Lyudmyla Alyoshkin created and donated the female Trypillian figurine, enriching the overall composition with historical references.
On May 21 in Kyiv, in honor of Vyshyvanka Day, the images of the city’s founders—Kyiv, Shchek, Khoriv, and Lybid—were updated. The bronze figures on Poshtova Square were adorned with vyshyvankas from various regions of Ukraine. Sculptor Volodymyr Zhuravel also spoke about upcoming updates to these art installations.
