Lily of the Valley
Kiev, Ukraine,
2015
конвалія (Lily of the Valley) painted as part of CityArt project in Kiev, Ukraine. The title of this work comes from the first poem published by famous Ukrainian poet, Lesya Ukrainka. The image was inspired by archival imagery while researching images of the Ukrainian 'Vyshyvanka' national dress. As a result viewers found in the work a resonance in the memory of the famous writer, one of Ukrainian literature's foremost writers, best known for her poems and plays. She was also an active political, civil, and feminist activist.
Photographs by Guido van Helten
Project Details
Project
Lily of the ValleyLocation
Kiev, UkraineCommissioner
CityArt ProjectLily of the valley grew in the grove
Under the high oak,
Protected from bad weather
Under the branches wide.
But for a long time she was comforted
Lily of the valley, -
And her hand is male
Age shortened.
Oh, they carried a lily of the valley
In the high hall,
She took it with her
Young lady to the ball.
Oh, the ball is fun
The musician plays,
Lilies of the valley and music
Poor heart ends.
Same young lady in fun
Waltz spun,
And in the lily of the valley
She said, bowing her head.
The lily said:
“Goodbye, sweetheart!
And you, my high oak,
My friend is the only one! ”
And she stopped. Indifferent
Young lady, in her hand
That faded flower,
Threw it down.
Maybe you too, my lady,
Someday have to
Remember that like lily of the valley,
Happiness will pass.
Not too long from now, my lady,
You will be comforted
But the points are fun
like the Tanochki twist.
Maybe once this is cute,
What he loves so much,
You, the fading flower,
Leaves me indifferent! ..
[Volyn, 10/30/1884]
Utopia
Grenoble, France, 2022
Completed for Grenoble Street Art Festival in October 2022.
L'eau - Martigny
Martigny, Switzerland, 2021
The concept explores a site-specific story relating to the Water...
Monuments Project - Minnesota
Mankato, Minnesota, 2020
Minnesota’s largest mural, this artwork is installed at the Ardent...
Monuments Project - Iowa
Fort Dodge, Iowa, 2018
The largest mural in the state of Iowa, this 360-degree mural on...
The Gods of Dharavi
Mumbai, India, 2017
A collaborative concept with the Slum Gods crew - developed on...
FestiWall
Ragusa, Sicily, Italy, 2017
Commissioned for the 2017 FestiWall public art festival, this...
Coonalpyn
Coonalpyn, South Australia, 2017
Commissioned by Coorong District Council at the Viterra active...
Frontline
Avdeevka, Ukraine, 2016
Painted for Art United Us project in the front line town of...
Mexicable Project, Part I
Ecatepec de Morelos, Mexico , 2016
Part of a series commissioned by Konect1 to launch the Mexicable...
Crystal Ship
Oostende, Belgium, 2016
Painted for the first edition of The Crystal Ship arts festival in...
Brim Silo Project
Brim, Victoria, Australia, 2016
The Brim silo project undertaken by Guido van Helten & Juddy Roller...
Last meal on Halvmåneøya
Svalbard, Norway, 2015
Titled Last meal on Halvmåneøya (Half Moon Island) this work was...
Wall to Wall Festival
Benalla, Victoria, 2015
This work explores the use of old photographs in the modern...
Akureyravaka
Akureyri, Iceland, 2014
'Painted for Akureyrarvaka Menningarnótt (culture night) in 2014...
