The International Biennial Symposium

Conference and Exhibition on Textile and Fibre Art

"Scythia"

 

 

 

The International Biennial Symposium and Exhibition of Textile Art "Scythia" is the only one prestigious international textile symposium and exhibition in Ukraine on the European level.

This event is biennial. The founders of the biennial are Ludmila Egorova and Andrew Schneider, members of the National Artists’ Union, and the organizer is Anastasia Schneider. It is Ludmila Egorova's and Andrew Schneider's private initiative and it does not depend upon any state cultural institutions. It is the first in Ukraine privately organized international art event, which is free from any kind of pressure.

What is textile for the founders and organisers? Textile is inseparable part of our everyday life. Textile is ancient and contemporary. It is functional keeping its artistic status. It can be two or three dimensional, it can be tiny or huge, heavy or transparent and airy, abstract or figurative. It has incredible, endless possibilities to express any artistic ideas. Textile art for us is always an exciting journey and adventure.

Having worked in the sphere of organisation of textile and fibre art events for more than 30 years we often asked ourselves: What is next? What is going to be in future? How do we see future of textile art in Europe and other continents? At our quick-running time, time of technical innovations, routine, hand-made textile step by step disappears from our continent. As we do not want this unique, incredible art form to disappear completely, we continue our work. We understand that we need to keep alive this art form for next generations. This powerful art form with its tactile features can help to revitalize and rehabilitate us in the world of complete computerization. This art form can keep us alive, human and socialized.

Textile, due to different circumstances, is pushed out from the sphere of fine art. One of this reason is a well-known dilemma - is textile art or craft? Hopefully in Ukraine it is still a highly respected art form and we are proud of this. Textile artists in our country will never call themselves craftsmen or weavers, as like a rule, they all have graduated from art academies, where they have been learning for 5-6 years painting, drawing, composition, theory of colour, etc. to become a professional textile artist. The second reason is publications of some modern art critics and art historians, who push out textile art from the sphere of fine art moving it towards craft. In Ukraine we preserve the status of textile art, as we quite well understand that craft and art have different kinds of thinking and not similar aims and tasks. Craftsmen and their collectives are involved in production of functional, decorative items and this can hide serious cultural challenges and losses in time of complete globalization and rampant consumerism. We try to create new art audience excited of deepness and beauty of textile art despite the production and circulation of globalized fine arts. We want the audience to be deeply in love with textile art.

We are very grateful for all those, who supported us morally on our way for this, who are still active in textile art and who contributed their own time for the future of this art form. We always respect the individual’s freedom to make decisions as for theme, colour, design or technique. For all these years we have never pressed on artists with only one definite theme for expression. Viewers can interpret any work for their own edification. The artist’s inner intensions will never be entirely known or revealed completely. It is better when artist’s work is open for analysis. That is why we do not have any limits as for themes. For us artists are the biggest group of people, which puts the notion of freedom on the first place in their life.  Stay free and stay with us in our mutual strivings to keep this beautiful, tactile art form alive.

The International Biennial of Textile Art “Scythia” was first held in June 1996 in Kherson, Ukraine.

The International Biennials were supported by the Council of Europe, European Cultural Foundation, the European Textile Network, the Arts Council of Switzerland.

In 2026 the International Biennial of Textile Art “Scythia” celebrates 30 years of continuous work in the field of textile and fiber art. During 1996-2026, 2515 artists, designers, and art historians from 60 countries of the world participated in various international events of textile art “Scythia”: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ecuador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Island, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Moldova, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela.

Since 1996, the International Biennial of Textile Art has been held every two years, which included an exhibition, conference, art to wear show, and master classes. Since 2003, the International Exhibitions of Mini Textile Art “Scythia” (up to 30×30 cm) have been held every two years, in which 927 artists from 44 countries of the world have participated.

 Since 2019, the International Exhibitions of Micro Textile Art “Scythia” (up to 5×5 cm) have been held every two years, in which 215 artists from 43 countries of the world have participated.

 Since 2011, the “Fibremen” exhibitions have been organized, the participants of these exhibitions are only male artists who work with artistic textiles. During this period, the works of 140 artists from 25 countries of the world were presented at these exhibitions. In 2009, the exchange exhibition between 12 Japanese and 12 Ukrainian artists “The World in White. Nothing or Everything” was held in Kherson and Tokyo. Ukraine was represented by artists from Kyiv, Zaporizhia, Kosiv, Rivne, Yevpatoria, Cherkasy, Lviv, Kherson, Odessa and Vinnytsia. Japanese artists represented Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Kyoto and Kamakura. The exhibition received gratitude from the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan. 2012 – Ukrainian-Japanese exhibition “Luminous”, which took place in Kherson and Tokyo. 10 representatives of Ukraine from Odessa, Luhansk, Sumy, Kherson, Vinnytsia, Kyiv and 10 representatives of Japan from Fukuoka, Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kamakura and Kobe took part.

In 2016 – an accompanied international exhibition “The Gift Project” was held in Kherson together with Teesside University, Great Britain. Participants were from Great Britain, Japan, USA, Spain, Austria and Ukraine.

In 2016, the exhibition “Textile for Young” was organized, at which young artists and students from 8 countries of the world took part.

 In 2016, an exchange exhibition between 10 Dutch and 10 Ukrainian artists was held in Kherson (Ukraine) and Leiden (the Netherlands).

 Thanks to the cooperation between the organizers, Ukrainian artists from Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv took part in the 10th International Fiber Art Biennale “From Lausanne to Beijing” in 2018 in Beijing (China) and the Sofia Paper Art Fest in Sofia (Bulgaria) in 2024.

Since 1996, at the international conferences 250 reports on various aspects of contemporary textile and fiber art have been made by artists and specialists from 110 universities of the world: Stanford and California Universities (USA), Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design (London), Manchester City University, Teesside University (UK), Australian National University (Canberra, Australia), Tokyo and Kyoto Universities (Japan), Gothenburg University (Sweden), University of Zurich (Switzerland), Marmara University, Cukurova University, Selcuk University (Turkey), Technical Training Institute of Athens (Greece) and others.

12 art to wear shows were held, with representatives from Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Argentina, Taiwan, Ukraine, Turkey, Poland, France, the USA and Germany.

Since 1998, master classes have been held to exchange experience in using new, unusual and original techniques of textiles and fiber art: NUNO-felt, indigo dyeing, shibori, arashi, quilting and patchwork, silk paper, kozo paper and others. The master classes were held by specialists from Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Turkey, Japan and the USA.

Felt workshop was organized by Margret Riedl-Muller (Germany) and Elske Straatsma-Brouwer (The Netherlands).

Quilt and patch workshop by Bernadette Mayer (Germany).

Several workshops: on silk paper, indigo, NUNO felt by Olga Tyrwhitt (UK), on patch & quilt by Margrit Kopf (Germany), on felt and leather constructions by Ali Yaldir (Turkey).

Kozo paper by Seiko Atsuta (USA) (Japan).

Felt by Gulshat Djuraeva (Kazahstan) and Andrew Schneider (Ukraine).

Hand-made paper by Andrew Schneider (Ukraine).

Vildan Tok (Turkey), Andrew Schneider (Ukraine).

The aim of launching the biennial was to unite with this event textile artists, art historians, designers of the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions, to develop their cooperation and then to involve representatives of other regions and continents. The founders wanted to create a well-known Ukrainian international art event in the world, which would worthily represent their country. For 30 years, the international textile art events “Scythia” have been an element of cultural diplomacy, creating a positive impression of Ukraine, introducing foreigners the diversity of Ukrainian contemporary textile art and the richness of traditional Ukrainian textiles, including different excursions to the most important centers of crafts, and also allowing Ukrainian artists and visitors to see contemporary textile art at their native country, even from the most remote parts of the world. For several years the International Biennial of Textile and Fibre Art “Scythia” exhibitions have been included in the list of art events, which are worth visiting in Europe (published by the Netherlands).

Preparations for the biennial began in 1991 with the establishment of relations with the International Tapestry Network (USA). Later, cooperation was established with the European Textile Network (Germany), the Department of Culture and Sport of the Council of Europe (France), the European Cultural Foundation (Netherlands), the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia (Switzerland), and the British Overseas Volunteer Executive Service (UK). In September 1995, the biennial program was presented by Ludmila Egorova at the Forum of Cultural Organizations of the Council of Europe in France, where she also represented and spoke on behalf of the European Textile Network. In different years, the Biennial programs were also presented at professional international conferences and forums in Manchester, Wirral and London (Great Britain), Madrid and Barcelona (Spain), Portland (USA), Graz (Austria), Athens (Greece), Istanbul and Izmir (Turkey), Kaunas (Lithuania), Leiden (Netherlands) etc.

Since 1998, the best works of the artists have been awarded with medals. Since 1998 to 2026, 61 artists have been awarded. Representatives of 23 countries of the world have received medals. The largest number of awards were received by Ukrainian artists – 12 and Japanese artists – 6.

 

1998

I award   Graciela Samrey (Argentina)

II award   Andrew Schneider (Ukraine)

III award   Olga Bryntzeva (Ukraine)

 

2000

I award   Natalia Shymin (Ukraine)

II award   Lilo Schaer (Switzerland)

III award   Galina Poloz (Moldova)

 

2002

I award – Nomura Shoko (Japan)

II award – Olga Paruta-Vitruk (Ukraine)

III award – Ali Yaldir (Turkey)

 

2004

I award – Brigitte Amarger (France)

II award – Seiko Atsuta (USA)

III award – Tetiana Vlasenko (Ukraine)

 

2006

I award – Ainsley Hillard (Australia)

II award – Toshie Takahashi (Japan), Olga Marino (Ukraine)

III award – Brett Alexander (Australia), Jennifer Shellard (Great Britain), Iryna Schostak (Ukraine)

 

2008

I award – Olena Shumilina (Ukraine)

II award – Mary Ruth Smith (USA), Maximo Laura (Peru)

III award – Kuoko Ueda (Japan)

 

2010

I award – Shizuko Kimura (Uk/Japan)

II award – Maire Koivisto (Finland)

III award – Ester Serpionova (Ukraine)

 

2012

I award – Ursula Gerber-Senger (Switzerland)

II award – Eszter Bornemisza (Hungary)

III award – Nobuko Koizumi (Japan)

 

2014

I award – Amanda McCavour (Canada)

II award – Maciej Mesznik (Poland)

III award – Magdalena   Kleszynska (Poland)

 

2016

I award – Chiyoko Kumon (Japan)

II award – Iya Skoromna (Ukraine)

III award – Dorothea Van De Winkel (Belgium)

 

2018

I award – June Lee (Korea)

II award – Susan Hotchkis (France)

III award – Karolina Lizurej (Poland)

 

2020

I Award – Stewart Kelly (UK)

II Award – Alex Younger (USA)

III Award – Anneke Klein (The Netherlands)

 

2022

I Award – Shin-hee Chin (USA)

II Award – Tetiana Vytiaglovs'ka (Ukraine)

III Award – Lena Meszaros (France)

 

2023 MINI

I Award – Faith Humphrey Hill (USA)

II Award – Oksana Rybotyts’ka (Ukraine)

III Award – Sara-Marie McGarrighan (Norway)

 

2023 MICRO

I Award – Maria Timenyk (Ukraine)

II Award – Pascale Loiseau  (Belgium)

III Award – Alison Baxter (UK)

 

2024

I Award – Megan Sharkey (UK)

II Award – Zane Shumeiko (Latvia/Estonia)

III Award – Eleni Exarchou (Greece)

 

2025 MINI

I Award – Sandrine Thiebaud-Mathieau (France)

II Award – Kristine Japina (Latvia)

III Award – Susan Hensel (USA)

 

2025 MICRO

I Award – Nancy van Dijk (the Netherlands)

II Award – Sue Tuckett (UK)

III Award – Isaline Lambert (Switzerland)

 

2026

I Award – Galyna Slobodian (Ukraine)

II Award – Rose Meyer-Hakelberg (Germany)

III Award – Britta Schatton (Germany)

 

 

Publications about textile events of “Scythia” were in International Tapestry Network Journal (USA and Australia), Textileforum (Germany), IAPMA Art Paper (Netherlands), British Tapestry Journal (Great Britain), Canadian Tapestry Journal (Canada), Form Forum (Switzerland), Textil Kunst (Germany), Arte Morbida (Italy), The Sunday times of Malta (Malta), Kyodo News (Japan), Fine Arts (Ukraine) and others.

For their activities and assistance in cultural exchange, the founders and organizers of “Scythia” received thanks from the Council of Europe, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Korea, the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan, and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The exhibitions present works which were made using various textile materials, techniques and technologies - from traditional to modern, from two-dimensional to three-dimensional. Artists use traditional materials (wool, linen, cotton, silk, synthetics, tulle, denim, lace, wire, paper, leather, beads) etc. and techniques (weaving, embroidery, sewing, various types of printing, batik, quilting, applique, felting, knitting, crochet, patch). There are also works in which successfully combined non-traditional innovative materials and techniques: a combination of ceramics and textiles, found objects, stones, dried wheat roots, wheat sprouts, soil, newspapers, feathers, bubble wrap, cable ties, foil, plastic bags, cellulose, liquid wallpaper, salt crystals and crystallization techniques, 3D printing, etc.

The works presented at the exhibitions show a wide range of topics that artists from all over the world are working on. They express certain social problems, wars and their impact on people's destinies, the theme of finding oneself, one's "I", one's identity, study a wide variety of human emotional states, the issues of human memory, a person's life path, the healing of mental and physical wounds, the theme of nature, its beauty, the ecological aspects of human influence on nature, and also pay attention to historical themes and the philosophical theme of the passage of time.

Each work sent to Ukraine is an expression of trust and respect for our country. The goal of International Biennial of Textile Art “Scythia” is to show that textile is a form of modern art, and not just a craft or a form of applied art.

Our great thanks for ETN, Beatrijs Sterk and Dietmar Laue, Helga Berry (USA), Donna Martin (USA), Pam Patrie (USA), Barbara Heller and "BC Stars" (Canada), Teresa Gallego (Spain), Karla de Ketelaere (Spain), Isabel Dibden-Wright (UK), Hilary Sleiman (UK), Judith Railton (UK), Olga Tyrwhitt (UK), Margaret Perivoliotis (Greece), Margret Riedel-Muller (Gemany), Bernadette Mayer (Germany), Elske Straatsma-Brouwer (The Netherlands), Seiko Atsuta (USA), Cemile Tuna (Turkey), Monika Loster (The Netherlands), Dorothy Wedderburn (The Netherlands).

Long live Textile ART!

 

 

 

Founders and organizers of the exhibition

Ludmila Egorova

Andrew Schneider

Anastasia Schneider