Ivan's Land

Artscapes: Creative minds, artistic pursuits and inventive filmmaking

In a modest countryside house, on mud floors bathed in sunlight, one of Ukraine's last true folk artists paints in a state of joy. Ivan Prikhodko's brushes drip with brilliant colours as he confers with his animals about his latest canvas. His two-dimensional symbols of sunflowers, birds, fruit and horses are as simple as they are highly regarded. Often visited by other artists and two particular curators, he's invited to show at the country's flagship cultural centre in Kiev. But filmmaker Andrii Lysetskyi skips the "country innocent hits the big time" tropes to follow the far richer story of a man who earnestly rejects monetary success for a deep connection with his land. True happiness and breathtaking cinematography paint the screen in this jubilant look at an artist fully alive in his work. Myrocia Watamaniuk

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