To the sich. 1980. MUNDM.
COSSACK VICTORY SINGER
Vasyl Zavhorodniy, the 80-year-old honorable artist of Ukraine, member of the NUFAMU, laureate of the Kateryna Bilokur prize, was born in the village of Vodiane, Kirovograd region. He became an orphan in early childhood. Zavhorodniy's great-grandfather was a Cossack, the grandfather - a chumack, thus, the grandson's innocent soul was inclined to the heroic voice of past times. He started painting in his childhood, dreamt about getting education, but the war burst out and he went to the front as a volunteer, being under age. Vasyl got demobilized in 1950 and joined the Kirovograd Theater, where he was going to work as a painter. But his baritone was heard by the famous Patorzhynskyi and Vasyl entered the Conservatoire. He sang in the Opera House in Kyiv, then went to the virgin lands, and since 1960 he has been a leading singer in Veriovka choir. In mature age he dedicates himself to creative art. The heroes of his works are simple villagers, lovers, chumaks, Cossacks and characters from literature. His works are laconic, open and simple for perception. Vasyl Zavhorodniy is in constant search of new shapes, forms and possibilities of using wood and paint. The author of the article about the honorable artist, Ihor Poshyvaylo, as well as the artist's friend Serhiy Plachinda, are sure that the main theme of Vasyl Zavhorodniy's works is love for Ukraine.