GAYDUK ZINAIDA Nothing else but this rural landscape, which she regarded as her true Homeland, became determinative in the world view of the paintress to-be, sank deep into her heart, and became the main theme of all her verses and canvases… Here is how she recollected these days: “There were not only fears and hardships in our childhood. Our little bare feet with red spots ran on wet grass, our hands plucked field flowers and twined wreaths of mallows, larkspurs, cornflowers, wild vetches, and each new day brought some discoveries, it thrilled and excited. The road which led to the horizon, where the ground melted into the sky, invited to far-flung countries… How right Taras Shevchenko was when he said that “there is no better heaven than the heaven on earth”. It fell out that an artist with a singular gift of a lyrical poet already dwelt in the little girl’s heart. She was destined not only to paint beautiful landscapes but also to write delicate, tuneful verses, where luxuriates the melodious Ukrainian language, filled with vigor and true pathos...
ЗІНАЇДА ГАЙДУК
ZINAIDA KYRYLIVNA GAYDUK was born on 22 September 1937 in Zaporizhzhya, where, as a matter of fact, she lived all her life. She was born in a large family and had four brothers. The Gayduks enjoyed a very modest competence, lived plainly, and to top it all, they had to roam the neighboring villages during World War II until they could move to the city again in 1947. Quite naturally, these first experiences and impressions the little girl gained from conversing with native steppe land were of particular importance for the artist and poetess to-be.
ZINAIDA GAYDUK