Vasil Chebanik

Vasil Chebanik

Kyiv, Ukraine

Calligrapher, member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, Honoured Man of Art of Ukraine, Professor at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture (Kyiv)

He was born in the village of Klishkovtsy, Khotyn Raion, Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine, on August 5, 1933. He is a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, professor of the National Academy of Visual Arts and Architecture, Head of the Training and Creative Workshop of Book Design and Introligation (a mixed binding and book design technique).

In 1963, he graduated from the Kyiv State Artistic Institute, Book Graphic Art Workshop. He studied under professors V. Kasiyan, I. Pleshchinsky, G.Yakutovich.

He has been working in the Academy of Visual Arts and Architecture since 1962 (his graduation year).

Core line of business: professor of the Academy; book design and illustration; font design; introligation (embroidery; processing of book units; covering with leather under the 13th-18th century technology).

His creative work was certified by silver prize of the USSR Higher Academy of Art in 1964, by Ivan Fyodorov and Georgy Yakutovich diplomas. His achievemnets in corporate style and logos, praiseful books NaUKMA, diplomas, font for the National University of “Kyiv Mohyla Academy” brought him St. Peter Mohyla Prize. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Presidium awarded him Certificate of Honour for his handmade book unit, leather cover, and artistic design of the Constitution of Ukraine executed for Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Supreme Council of Ukraine).

During the last 10 years he has been engaged in “cyrillization” of Ukrainian alphabet based on the fundamental Cyrillic alphabet. The project was on display at 5 exhibitions in Kyiv and Kharkov. The comments were broadcasted by the country’s prime TV channels, published in newspapers, posted on the Internet. Vasil displayed his calligraphic and book design works at republican art exhibitions. He took part in the International Symposium of Calligraphers in Tallinn in 1972.

“As experience suggests, even a layman is often able to understand the beauty of calligraphy, it’s just that many of us are deprived of this culture since childhood. Hopefully, this project, thanks to organizers” sincere desire and efforts, would inspire many people to become calligraphy fans“.