National identity of Ukrainian Ornament in the Context of the European Modern Style

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to analyse the national identity of Ukrainian ornament as a cultural and aesthetic phenomenon and its interpretation in modern art in the European context. The research methodology is based on the complex application of art criticism, historical, comparative, structural-semiotic, and culturological analysis. The scientific novelty of the study is revealing the role of Ukrainian ornament as an artistic code of national identity in modern art, which goes beyond the purely decorative function, which allows us to trace the mechanisms of artistic rethinking of tradition in modernism. Conclusions. Ukrainian ornaments are a holistic sign system that combines aesthetic form, symbolic content and cultural memory. Its national identity is due primarily to the ability to accumulate worldviews, historical experience and spiritual orientations of the people. Therefire, the ornament functions as a stable identification code that preserves the connection of generations and ensures the continuity of the artistic tradition. In the era of modernism, this tradition was not lost, but underwent a deep rethinking. The Ukrainian version of Art Nouveau was formed as a result of the creative adaptation of folk forms to new aesthetic principles. Stylisation, reduction and geometrisation of motifs made it possible to integrate them into professional architecture, graphics and decorative art without losing semantic fullness. An original version of the style was created, which combined the local cultural code with the pan-European artistic discourse. Thus, Ukrainian modernism established itself as a synthetic phenomenon in which national ornamentation became a means of cultural representation. In the modern context, the ornament remains relevant due to its ability to transform. Ethnodesign, digital technologies and new materials open up opportunities for further interpretation of traditional motifs, however, the determining condition remains the preservation of their semantic core. It is the combination of semantic depth with modern form-making principles that ensures the viability of Ukrainian ornament as a universal language of culture, combining history and modernity.