Celebrating the legacy of Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada.

Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko is a figure of Ukrainian resilience and an inspiration to many.

The 19th-century poet was a highly significant figure in the Ukrainian national revival under Russian rule. His radical views influenced contemporary literature and inspired his fellow countrymen during a period of wide-spread suffering. Acting as a beacon of hope in life and after death, he was eventually deemed the father of new Ukrainian literature and the nation’s poet for his contributions to the country and its culture. 

Shevchenko was exceedingly brilliant from a young age. Born into serfdom, during an era when serfs were seen as little more than chattel, he was chosen from among the young boys to be taught by a deacon. He excelled in his schooling, and it was at this stage of his life when his affinity for art came to light as well. 

Shevchenko loved to draw and paint, illustrating in the margins of his papers and wherever else he could whenever he found the time. Eventually, when he came of age to enter formal servitude, he found a deacon willing to train him as an artist, but his master forbade him from leaving to study, unwilling to lose a servant. This didn’t stop him from pursuing his passions. One night, when his master and his wife had left for a ball, Shevchenko began to draw by candlelight. Enthralled by his work, he lost track of time and was discovered by his furious master, who ordered him to be whipped.  

Despite this cruelty, Shevchenko continued to paint and draw with the same passion as always, undeterred. Eventually, he was allowed to study with a professional artist, and it was at this point that he began to earn awards and medals for his art. Members of the upper class recognized his talent and arranged to buy him out of serfdom. 

He also began to write incredible poetry, as well as plays. He released his first collection of poetry in 1840, and his epic poem Haidamaky in 1841. In 1842 he began writing his famous tragedy Mykyta Haidai and in 1843 he completed his drama Nazar Stodolya. 

With this, he became an emblem of resistance against the oppression faced by the Ukrainian people. His poetry, full of national pride and demands for justice in the face of tyranny, remained deeply connected to the struggles of his homeland throughout his life. His work continually reflected the hardships of the Ukrainian people under tsarist rule. His identity as an individual and as an artist was intertwined with the struggle of his nation and its people. 

Shevchenko’s opposition to social and national oppression eventually led to friction with the Russian tsarist government. They issued censors upon his work in an attempt to suppress his voice and stifle his influence. Despite these attempts to silence him, his brilliance was undeniable, even by his most staunch critics. 

In 1846, his political views took a more radical turn when he joined the Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius, a secret society that advocated for Ukrainian independence from the existing regime. His involvement with the Brotherhood led to his arrest in 1847, marking the start of a harsh period of exile. He created numerous paintings during this time, and incorporated bold themes of social injustice, particularly the suffering of workers and peasants—something he had personal experience with—into his poetry, giving rise to revolutionary new ideas for his fellow man to resonate with.

Eventually, due to his outspoken nature, he was sentenced to serve in a remote military detachment, where he was forbidden by the tsar from writing or painting. During this time, he was restricted heavily, but he still continued to work in the way he had always done best. He secretly transcribed his poetry, including the cycle In the Dungeon, and continued to challenge the tsarist regime through his art, despite his harsh conditions.

Though exiled and under constant surveillance, Shevchenko’s creative spirit remained unbroken. His years of struggle and imprisonment fueled his determination to document the suffering of his people and resist oppression through his art. 

Despite the immense amount of hardship he faced throughout his life, Shevchenko remained committed to the idea of Ukrainian independence, understanding that freedom would only come through struggle, not through any benevolence from the tsar. His later works painted vivid portraits of those who fought against tyranny, embodying the struggle for a free and just society. And although his exile significantly affected his health, his creativity remained an inextinguishable flame, lighting the way for all those who shared his dream of a united homeland. 

He died in 1861 in St. Petersburg, Russia. His funeral featured speeches in Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish, demonstrating the wide-reaching, cross-continental influence of his work. Following his wishes in his poem Zapovit (“My Testament”), his body was transported back to Ukraine, where he was buried, fulfilling his lifelong dream of returning to the land he loved.

Shevchenko’s life and legacy continue to inspire generations, embodying the unyielding desire for freedom, justice, and national identity that lives on in Ukrainians today. His writings, poetry, and art remain a testament to his vision of a free Ukraine and the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of tyranny and oppression.

The Ukrainian Museum of Canada’s presentation of Shevchenkomania! highlights the everlasting legacy of freedom, resilience, and Ukrainian pride that Taras Shevchenko left behind. It explores the profound influence his work has had on Ukrainian craftsmanship and artistic expression. 

The exhibition features a diverse array of pieces, ranging from embroidery work, painted portraits and carved woodwork, to other forms of folk art. Each work was carefully selected  from the museum’s extensive collection of work inspired by Shevchenko’s legacy. 

Shevchenkomania! underscores the deep reverence Ukrainians have for Shevchenko, both as a cultural icon and as a symbol of resilience and hope. It reflects his lasting impact as a powerful source of inspiration, demonstrating why his vision of a free and united Ukraine continues to resonate with Ukrainians, even over a century later. 

The pieces displayed in the exhibition are incredible, showcasing the talent and love that various Ukrainian artists have for both their art and their hero through their craftsmanship. Carefully carved wooden portraits, statues and oil paintings, each painstakingly made as a testament to their shared dream as Ukrainians. 
Shevchenkomania! runs until June 14 and admission is by donation, so be sure to visit the museum sometime this spring or summer and get a glimpse into the legacy of a Ukrainian cultural icon from contemporary perspectives.