Crimean Tatar ornament Ornek is included in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
On December 16, during the 16th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Paris, France), the Ukrainian element "Ornek - Crimean Tatar ornament and knowledge about it" was included in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The meeting of the Committee was held online. It was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine and experts.
According to the regulations, the head of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova, spoke at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage immediately after the announcement of the positive decision.
She thanked the members and experts of the Committee for their attention and trust in the nomination of an element that belongs to the oldest cultural heritage of the Crimean Tatar people - the indigenous people of Ukraine.
"Ornek is an important element of the self-identification of the Crimean Tatar people and an integral part of the life of every Crimean Tatar family, as well as an integral part of modern Crimean Tatar culture and a unique part of Ukraine's cultural, artistic and spiritual heritage. I am proud that the Crimean Tatar ornament has enriched the cultural heritage of mankind," said Emine Dzhaparova.
The Head of the National Commission stressed that the ornek is a means of transmitting knowledge from generation to generation about the cultural and historical aspects of people's lives, thanks to which knowledge about it has survived the tragic pages of the history of the Crimean Tatars. She expressed belief that this symbol will continue to unite and inspire the Crimean Tatar people, helping to protect the Crimean Tatar identity and culture in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
On the occasion of the decision and with the assistance of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, with which the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on September 13, 2021, during December 16-17 the Kyiv City State Administration building on Khreshchatyk (Kyiv) will be illuminated by Ornek ornament with use of 3D mapping.
Background
"Ornek - Crimean Tatar ornament and knowledge about it" - the fourth element of Ukrainian culture, included in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
"Ornek" is a system of symbols of plant and geometric nature (about 35) and unique meanings of each of them, which are currently used, in particular, in embroidery, weaving, pottery, majolica, engraving, jewelry, wood carving, glass, wall painting, etc.
In previous years, the following Ukrainian elements were included in the Representative List: Petrykivka decorative painting as a phenomenon of the Ukrainian ornamental folk art (2013) and "Tradition of Kosiv painted ceramics" (2019). Cossack songs of Dnipropetrovsk region are included (2016) in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.