Easter egg decorations from Stará Bystrica. (source: Sme - Ján Krošlák)
THE VIHORLAT Museum in the eastern Slovak town of Humenné has opened its Carpathian Easter Egg (Karpatská kraslica) exhibition for the 18th year.
In the days before Easter, artists from Slovakia and neighbouring countries will present 66 different collections of more than 2,000 eggs decorated in both traditional and novel ways.
“Foreign countries are represented by 15 collections by authors from Poland, Hungary, and Ukraine – so generally speaking, these are really Carpathian Easter eggs,” Vasil Fedič, the museum head, told the TASR newswire. He added that until April 9, visitors will be able to see thousands of eggs, many from the upper Zemplín region.
“The exhibition is also a competition – a jury consisting of artists, teachers at art schools and experts from the Vihorlat Museum – will choose the five best authors. Collections of ten or more eggs will be evaluated according to certain criteria, for instance the use of new artistic elements, technology, and the long-term contribution to preserving this folk tradition,” Fedič explained, adding that only Slovak authors can take part in the competition.
People visiting the exhibition will also be able to learn about several techniques used for decorating and painting eggs which are showcased within the museum’s ‘little school of decorating’.
