May the nuclear war be cursed
Dear readers around the world, please know I come in peace, with creative, green fingers, not trigger happy, destructive ones...
Spring at Long Mizzle
With the spring flowers blooming so beautifully, it is hard to comprehend the 'special military operation' on the edge of Europe that seeks to systematically erase an entire country, its memory, its culture... one that even threatens our planet as we know it. It is human nature to look for patterns. Unlike some comforting, predictable pop tune though in which one can guess the next notes, this is more like a mutating motif within an ill doomed symphony. History repeats itself time and time again.
'May the Nulclear War Be Cursed' Maria Pyrmachenko (1978)
The Ukranian folk artist Maria Pyrmachenko (1904 - 1997) was born and lived her whole life in the village of Bolotriya, Kyiv Oblast. Relatives said she was a thoughtful and considerate person, with a passion for nature and everything living. I think that comes across in her art work, don't you?
'Our Army, Our Protectors' Maria Pyrmachenko (1978)
This week, the Ivanki Museum, fifty miles north of Kyiv was destroyed. A reported twenty-five paintings by Maria Pyrmachenko went up in flames. Other unconfirmed reports say the paintings were saved by locals, and have been squirreled away in homes.
Above: The wonderfully bonkers 'Corncob Horse in Outer Space' by Maria Pyrmachenko (1978)
This struck a chord with something Simon Schama talks about in his brilliant BBC TV series 'The Romantics and Us' (specifically Ep03:Tribes, 45 minutes in) : when a homeland is taken away from a nation, all that's left is their culture.
There is the extraordinary tale of 'The Battle for Chopin's Heart' in Warsaw during World War II. Schama says the battle was within the German Commander ordered to capture the famous composer's heart - torn between his military obligation and his love for Chopin's music (Nazi Germany had banned Chopin, and the first statue to be destroyed in Warsaw was the one depicting Chopin). The latter won.
Camellias and azalea
Of course, Chopin had fled his homeland in Poland one hundred years before, when his nation was wiped off the map. Poland was ripped into three: Russia, Prussia and Austria, not then becoming its own country again until 1919.
Chopin never did make it back to his beloved homeland, but created his own version of Poland within his music and the hearts of others. Upon his death, his sister smuggled back his heart, pickled in cognac in a crystal jar. There it sat within the Holy Cross Church of Warsaw, until the church fell during WW2 - the only remaining pillar, the one with Chopin's heart in it.
Chopin's heart was restored to the reconstructed church after the war, where it still remains today.
Daffodils in the Cornish hedgerows
Hoop Peitcoat Daffodils in pot (Narcissus Bulbocodium)
I hope that you are keeping well.
I'll leave you with a little video, made after a glorious afternoon in the sanctuary of the garden yesterday.
Lulu xXx
Dear Lulu
ReplyDeleteA very thought provoking and sensitive post. I am a bit at a loss as to how to talk about this on my blog, but then again, it seems wrong to not say something. My thoughts are with all the people.
The signs of Spring in your garden are such a hopeful thing.
Best wishes
Ellie
Thank you Ellie. I try to stay away from politics on my little blog, but the cultural, humanitarian and environmental ripples are deeply felt. It is an impossible situation. The garden is happily oblivious, and grows away regardless. Lulu xXx
DeleteHow beautiful is that art, I do hope they squirrelled lot of it away - it's just so saddening to see the pointless destruction of a beautiful country and people; it's admirable that the Ukraine people stand and fight for their country/liberty, people returning from other countries to the Ukraine to help - how on earth this 'peace keeping exercise' can be allowed to continue is beyond me. Your video at the end is a welcome distraction, it's necessary for us all to be 'normal' but I think everyone in Ukraine knows we are with them in mind body and spirit totally.
DeleteThank you Betty :) I am thinking of the people of Ukraine every moment of every day. The kindness of the Polish and other neighbouring refugee countries has been exemplary xXx
DeleteWhat a poignant post, Lulu. I have to confess I actually cried a little bit. I choke up quite easily at the best of times, but lately more so than ever. I mean, how can it be Spring which is supposed to fill our hearts with joy, while people's lives are being destroyed?
ReplyDeleteMaria Pyrmachenko's artwork is stunning, and I do hope the rumour is true that people have squirreled away her paintings in the nick of time.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for that lovely little unedited video featuring those enchanting hoop petticoat daffs and your greenhouse sanctuary full of succulents and lollypop sticks! xxx
Big hugs to you Ann. Glad you liked Maria Pyrmachenko's art. Lulu xXx
Deletep.s. sending you some cyber lollypop sticks, just in case you didn't get enough ;) x
DeleteHi Lulu, I absolutely love the Ukrainian folk art. So beautiful and uplifting! I hope the reports are true and that some of the pieces have been saved, although I suppose they have other priorities right now. It's just dreadful. I think the world is numb with shock right now. I did not know the story about Chopin's heart. Incredible! It's good to see nature doing its thing and your garden coming to life, not to mention the plant progression inside your greenhouse. Those hoop petticoat daffs are a sight to behold! Take care. xxx
ReplyDeleteYes, I have to admit I would not be thinking of paintings in survival mode Claire, but they are very beautiful and it feels good to celebrate the Ukrainian's culture, as well as bravery xXx
DeleteA beautiful post, Lulu. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Jules xXx
DeleteThank you for writing and sharing these words. They have expressed so eloquently what I too and feeling right now. It is really hard to comprehend the destruction, the ripple effects of it are too great to even consider. I do hope there is a peaceful conclusion to this very soon. It was lovely to hear your voice in the video you shared. Your succulents are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks m' luverly xXx p.s. I think the succulents talk to each other when I'm not looking ;)
DeleteWhat a wonderfully thought proking post, Lulu! I was watching the BBC World News while we were away and saw the piece about Maria Pyrmachenko's work being destroyed, I do hope a few have been saved, it's bad enough to watch Ukraine being systematically destroyed and their people (and pets) displaced without centuries of culture being eradicated by that crazed lunatic. xxx
ReplyDeleteHello Vix, that's heartening to know it was on the BBC World News, I didn't see it on any UK news. Here's hoping for peace. Lulu xXx
DeleteLOVE the wonderful artwork of Maria Pyrmachenko!! thank you for introducing her to us!
ReplyDeleteand of cause i too hope that some of her paintings were secretly saved......
beeing "some miles" near to the place, it hard for us to stay sane - i reduced my news consumption even more now and claw to all the good things around me and on the internet. to which i do count your blog!
your garden is weeks ahead in the case of spring - full of wonderful blooms - especially the camellias.
now i´m off to watch the video!
hugs and love! xxxxx
So glad you liked the Maria Pyrmachenko artwork Beate - I find her paintings so uplifting, and some of the titles are pretty funny too. Sending positive vibes, peace and love xXx
DeleteOh my goodness, you DAD!!!! What sort of ice-lollies does he eat????? Does he not get sensitive teeth!?!?! I was astounded at the amount of lolly sticks! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou have such a large amount of succulents. I do agree they are otherworldly!
Your greenhouse ISN'T messy!!! It looks very organised!
It was lovely to hear your calming-sounding voice!
Right, now I've commented on the video- I LOVE the works of Maria Pyrmachenko that you shared. They are so beautiful and positive! I think I might share some of those with the children at school!
I loved the story you shared about the soldier who loved Chopin's music. I will watch the documentary at some point. I knew about Chopin's story as he was my featured composer back in 2019 with the children of KS2 in the Spring term- the Polish children were especially proud to learn about him though they were sad he had to leave his country. My choir children at school all know his funeral march as I play it when they won't shut up in choir and then they all scream and stay quiet as they know I want them to be quiet!
Hope you are well. Gardening, nature and music all calm the soul. I wish Putin would just get himself an allotment and perhaps he wouldn't have so much pent up nastiness! I hope and pray there is a way out of this awfulness!x
To be fair, the grandchildren help my dad out with the fruit icepops - but yes, he does some to get through a high amount, especially during the summer months :0 :0 :0 What a great idea to share the artwork with your school children. A previous place I lived had a big Polish community - they were very kind people. You're right, an allotment holder would never do any of these things! xXx
DeleteGlad you can now get into your greenhouse - and thanks for the video. Somehow the normality raises the spirits. We all, no doubt, have our thoughts many miles away. All good wishes.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mike, it is hard to think of anything else. Re. the greenhouse - it becomes a bit of a dumping space over winter, so it feels good to have a spring sort out. Hope you are keeping well xXx
DeleteA sensitive piece with wise words for all of us.
ReplyDeleteThank you Martin, greatly appreciated. I hope you and the family are keeping well xXx
Deletefor some reason I can't enter comments - third time lucky! A fascinating post Lulu and a bit of history I knew nothing about - many thanks x
ReplyDeleteIt worked Sue and thank you so much for persevering! I didn't know that part of Poland's history until I saw the programme. I think we can all emphathise with Ukraine, but I suspect Poland have a deeper understanding, as this has happened multiple times within their own history xXx
DeleteLulu, this was a moving and informative post. I was an art major who loved history, and it is within the context of history that arts are remembered. An expression of their times and circumstance. You have clearly shown us through this post. The image though that comes to my mind---probably too graphic to share in lily-white bloggyland is Picasso's, 'Guernica', an artistic expression of bombing and annihilation in his Spain of 1937.
ReplyDelete“Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it," by Edmund Burke, Irish Statesman. And so it goes.
Peace, Sandi
Thank you Sandi. I know the painting Guernica well and it's interesting that it is said that Picasso was blown away by Prymachenko's work. (I am personally still disturbed by seeing Max Ernst's bird headed, Nazi saluting figures in a Berlin art gallery many years ago). That's a spot on quote by the Irish Stateman, thank you for sharing. Lulu xXx
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