Paper Light: Contemporary Vytynanka

‘Paper Light’ is an oversized Vytynanka created for DesignTO 2026, planned as a window installation in downtown Toronto. The project reinterprets traditional 19th-century Ukrainian papercutting in a contemporary context, transforming a window into a luminous cultural focal point.

The intricate, large-scale yellow graphic acts as a modern talisman of resilience and light, bringing warmth and comfort during Toronto’s deep winter. Yellow was chosen for its associations with the sun, vitality, and an inner glow that seems to emanate from indoors — a counterpoint to the city’s short, dark winter days. When installed, the window will appear to glow from within, offering a quiet, radiant presence to passersby.

Rooted in Ukrainian tradition yet expressed through a contemporary lens, ‘Paper Light’ shares cultural heritage in a simple, clear way. The work emphasizes meticulous craft, layered patterns, and light, translating folk art into a modern, visually striking installation for winter.