'Green Echoes' launched in Mitchelstown Library
Storm Kathleen did not prevent a small crowd from gathering at the library in Mitchelstown last Saturday afternoon for the launch of a new exhibit, ‘Green Echoes: Ukrainian Views of Irish Landscape'.
Olena Aksiutenko launched the exhibit of her works, a series of Irish landscapes and buildings she has captured, beginning with her arrival to a refugee camp in Dublin almost one year ago, via the ‘serene charm’ of Renaniree near Macroom to her home today in Mitchelstown.
Speaking at the launch, Ms Aksiutenko explained how she has
been working as an artist for over 10 years. The works have been digitally drawn from life on a graphics tablet and then printed on watercolour textured paper and framed. The works that capture Mitchelstown vistas include the tents of the INDIE music festival, the steeple of St George’s, the Ice House and the Castle Gardens.
With many of the pieces celebrating the ‘green’ of Ireland, much was made of the unpredictable (and seemingly constant) rain, which haunts the outdoor artist while simultaneously providing the subject for many of the works.
Expressing her thanks for the support
she and her husband Dmitiy have received since coming to Ireland, Ms Aksiutenko said she wanted to hold an exhibition, ‘not only for myself, but also for the people of Mitchelstown’.
“10 months ago I didn’t speak English. This became a real exploration for me and a challenge because of the fickle weather! There are positive emotions in the process of drawing. Ireland is friendly and gave me more appreciation of that word, ‘pace’’.”
The exhibition continues throughout the month of April in Mitchelstown Library and is free to visit.