An exhibition of Shevchenko laureates who founded the Museum of Shipbuilding and the Fleet was opened in Mykolaiv

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

On Tuesday, 10 March, an exhibition entitled «Laureates of the Taras Shevchenko State Prize of Ukraine — creators of the Shipbuilding and Fleet Museum» opened at the Shipbuilding and Fleet Museum in Mykolaiv.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Shevchenko Prize and the 45th anniversary of the museum staff receiving this state award, according to NikVesti.

The exhibition featured rare exhibits: archival documents, photographs of the museum building during restoration, personal belongings of those involved in creating the exhibition, as well as awards and certificates of the Shevchenko Prize winners.

«The appearance of nine laureates from the same city at the same time is a unique precedent in the 65 years of existence of the Taras Shevchenko State Prize, now the National Prize. No one else has ever achieved this, not even the leading Ukrainian theatre companies. On the one hand, this is a real artistic gem. It is the work not only of nine Shevchenko Prize winners, but also of the entire city and, to a certain extent, its entire industry. Thanks to this, a museum was created here, which primarily tells the history of our city. It is here that you can find information about its formation, the emergence of the first settlements, naval traditions and the first means of navigation, both surface and other,» said public figure Taras Kremin.

Taras Kremin. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

According to him, in recent years, the museum has been updating its exhibitions, opening new halls and adding new exhibits to its collection.

«During the short time we spent preparing the exhibition, we managed to continue the great work we are doing together with the staff of the Shipbuilding and Fleet Museum, the Mykolaiv Regional Local History Museum, and the authorities. This includes renovating museum halls, rethinking exhibitions, and implementing the law on decommunisation. New valuable exhibits are appearing and new halls are opening. I am very pleased that in recent years we have truly managed to update, rejuvenate and refresh the exhibition. We are doing this so that the museum remains not only a tourist magnet, but also an important testimony to the fact that Mykolaiv is of geopolitical and strategic importance not only for southern Ukraine, but also for Europe,» added Taras Kremin.

An exhibition of Shevchenko laureates has opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners has opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

In turn, Olena Buberenko, head of the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religions of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, said that a series of cultural events had been planned in the region to mark the anniversary of the award.

«Yesterday (9 March, — note) was the birthday of the outstanding genius of the Ukrainian people, our prophet Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko. This is why we started a series of events dedicated to the anniversary of the creation of the highest award in the field of literature, culture and art, the Shevchenko Prize. Therefore, we have planned various events throughout the year, and this plan has already been approved. Themed events will be held in cultural institutions, educational institutions and higher education institutions. I am very pleased that this year we are holding these events not only in the Mykolaiv region, but also together with the people of Kherson. After all, who else but us should be there for them at such a time,» said Olena Buberenko.

An exhibition of Shevchenko laureates has opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

«n general, the people of Mykolaiv love our museum, and foreign guests love it too, because we see their eyes when they leave the museum, they are delighted. People from Mykolaiv have loved our museum since they were two years old: we give them tours. Veterans, city residents and military personnel come to us,» said Tetiana Mitkovska, head of the Mykolaiv Museum of Shipbuilding and Fleet.

Among those who worked on the creation of the museum were the head of construction and restoration works, Oleksii Shorin, the architect of the Kyiv Design and Restoration Institute, Tamara Huselnikova, and scientists Liudmyla Khlopinska and Halyna Cherednychenko.

A creative team led by Mykhailo Ozernyi worked on the artistic design of the exhibition. Among the award winners were also artists Yurii Stieshyn and Viktor Semernov, author of the diorama «Shipbuilding at the Mykolaiv Admiralty in the late 18th and early 19th centuries».

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners has opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners has opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners has opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

An exhibition of Shevchenko Prize winners opened in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti / Anna Hakman

We would like to remind you that a presentation of Hanna Polovenko's book «Life Like Shards of Glass» took place in Mykolaiv, in which the writer shares her personal memories of life during the war. The presentation of the book took place at the Museum of Shipbuilding and Fleet.

During the presentation, Hanna Polovenko said that she never planned to become a writer. She only started writing when she felt that she could not remain silent, in order to organise her own experiences and record the emotions that were «literally tearing her apart from the inside».