Large and small state emblems of the Ukrainian People's Republic 1918

Vasyl Hryhorovych Krychevsky designed these emblems for the Ukrainian People's Republic. I find myself really drawn into these two works, and their visual vocabulary of strong shapes and forms. The mark-making is so deliberate; the way that each line builds up to create the overall image. It’s clear that the artist isn’t just copying something he sees, but that he’s really trying to capture a feeling. I can imagine Krychevsky working with the materials, maybe feeling a sense of struggle as he works through different versions of the emblem, trying to decide what to include and what to leave out. Ultimately, art-making is a form of embodied expression. It’s about embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, and allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings. It's a conversation!