Natalka Kuzmenko

Natalka is a doll-maker from Cherkasy. For over twenty years she has been creating dolls from wood, herbs, rags, corn ears, fabrics. She also teaches others to do this – conducts master-classes.

Creative work

Starting from the beginning of the 1990th the master has become interested in the traditional authentic knot-doll. By now, for over 20 years she has been working with different materials (wood, herbs, withe, rags, corn ears and fabrics). In her works the master uses homespun fabrics, rags, runners, embroidered rushnyks, and ceramic handmade decorations. Natalka is occupied in the revival and popularization of this folk craft: she conducts master-classes in it.

The image of the traditional doll – a cross in a circle instead of a face – is a model of world structure; a symbol of the origin of life and fertility; of the succession and protection of generations.