Inside Ukraine's world of naive art — and the Gunia aesthetic it inspired

"Naive My Love," a new coffee table book authored by French publisher Assouline in collaboration with Ukrainian fashion and design brand Gunia Project, showcases the striking colors, imaginative themes, and deeply personal visual language of Ukrainian naive and folk art. The book offers an inside look at the works of about 40 self-taught Ukrainian painters and sculptors, highlighting their unique approach to art during a time when socialist realism was the only officially sanctioned form of art in the Soviet Union.

One of the most notable Ukrainian naive artists is Maria Prymachenko (1909-1997), who created art that reflected her own life experiences. Prymachenko, who walked with a cane due to polio contracted as a child, endured the Holodomor, lost her husband during World War II, and survived the Chornobyl nuclear disaster. Despite these hardships, her art is celebrated for its vibrant colors and fantastical creatures, such as "The Beast of War," where a menacing brown beast lies on a canvas, but hidden within is a red flower, symbolizing hope amidst adversity.

Another featured artist is Polina Raiko (1928-2004), whose work gained prominence during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. At 69 years old, Raiko began painting the interior of her home to cope with personal hardships. She described her creation process as a source of joy, stating, "I was working in my garden, got tired, painted a dove, and rested.

It was joyful. It was like I wasn't alone." Her colorful doves and angels became a symbol of her inner peace. However, her unique home was destroyed in 2023 when the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam was blown up by Russian forces, displacing the local community and imposing severe hardships on the remaining residents.