Ukrainian artist and ceramicist Ivana Poliakova has created a monumental ceramic panel titled In the Comfort of the Shadow of Memory in the Italian town of Salemi, Sicily.
The work was unveiled as part of a residency at the Salemi Ceramics school, where Poliakova explored the town’s ceramic and architectural heritage and its traditional ornamental motifs, according to Ukrainian media outlet BZh.
A central element of her research was the grapevine, a motif frequently found both in local ceramics and in the decorative façades of Salemi’s buildings.
For Poliakova, who is originally from Odessa, the grapevine also carries a deeply personal connection to childhood memories. She noted that in southern Ukraine, vines are often grown over arches, creating shaded spaces where people can rest, gather and spend time together.
The monumental work consists of individual ceramic tiles arranged around a cascade of arches filled with relief ornamentation inspired by grapevines. In this way, the composition connects the visual traditions of Sicily with memories of southern Ukraine.
The panel was installed on the wall of a building destroyed by the 1968 earthquake and later reconstructed in the 1970s as a public space.
The project also included the renovation of the surrounding area, intended to make the site more welcoming and comfortable for local residents.
