The visual inspiration for the collection came from the photo archive of Paraska Plytka-Horytsvit, which offers a glimpse into her artistic vision and a look at real life in Kryvorivnia. After her release from prison in 1945 (at age 17, Paraska had been imprisoned for aiding the UPA under the pseudonym “Lastivka”), photography became the bridge between her and the village.
Her photographs were distinguished by a unique creative approach: homemade frames appeared in the shots, and the printed photos were often embellished with decorative elements or cut into intricate shapes. Paraska thought through the entire process—from composing the shot to creating the finished photograph in the album. It was this unique aesthetic that captivated us as we explored the artist’s work.
The Easter photographs by Paraska Plytka-Horytsvit hold a special place in the collection, as they served as the inspiration for its creation during the holiday season. It was important to the artist to document the life of the community during religious holidays, as the church had always been the center of village life. Even in the face of bans and oppression by the Soviet Union, it remained a hub of tradition, faith, and community.
The SVARGA team went on an expedition to Kryvorivnia—the cultural heart of Hutsulshchyna. There, we spoke with custodians of local traditions, explored the legacy of Paraska Plytka-Horytsvit, and immersed ourselves in the atmosphere of authentic Hutsul life. We visited her hut, where painted furniture, books, letters, and fragments of embroidery have been preserved, conveying the creative energy of this unique person. It was these impressions, the stories we heard, and the sense of a living culture that inspired the creation of SVARGA’s “Hutsulia” collection.
