Olena Oryekhova

This Kyiv artist creates wonderful knot dolls. Not of a simple kind but in a Middle Dnipro (Naddripryanshchyna) regional style. For ages they have been personifying the Berehynya goddess (Protector) of the Hearth; they have embodied kindness and tenderness, love and expectations, served as symbols of fertility, prosperity and protection from evil forces.

Creative work

The artist treats her Berehynya-dolls seriously and prepares all the materials for them well in advance. Corn leaves, hay, wool, flax, decorative coins, different bead kinds are put into use. She seeks them out at fairs and in the shops. Dolls are born in complete silence and harmony while all the thoughts and intentions are united. The heights of these beauties are from 20 to 40 centimeters. Each of them has her own name and biography.