THE DECORATION OF ART NOUVEAU BUILDINGS IN THE POLTAVA REGION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

The article highlights the features of decoration of architectural objects in the Art Nouveau style on the territory of the historical Poltava region. The heritage of this style is diverse and highly artistic, but large parts of the buildings are abandoned, many of them do not have a protective status, therefore they suffer both from desolation and from unqualified repair work. The goal of the work is a comprehensive understanding of the value of both the architecture of these objects and their decoration: ceramic panels, molded sculpture, brick ornament and artistic metal. This will make it possible to determine priority directions for the rescue and treatment of cultural heritage objects, the search for restoration assets, the development of co-financing programs and the formation of grant applications. The main methodology of this study is a complex approach, based on the analysis of as many buildings as possible and, accordingly, the works of decorative art they contain. The reasons for the emergence of a new style, stylistic and morphological features of its various currents, depending on the region of origin, are considered. The scientific novelty of this study is the determination of the factors of the appearance of the first Art Nouveau buildings in the cities of Poltava region, the identification of regional centers of this style and the analysis of the most significant architectural objects in each of them. This work describes the features of decorative elements of the most outstanding buildings that have survived to our time. The conclusions reveal the contribution of Ukrainian modernism figures to the interpretation of folk ornamentation and symbolism through the creation of decorative decorations for buildings in the cities and villages of the Poltava region. It is highlighted how local productions or institutions influenced the spread of Ukrainian Art Nouveau. The description of objects based on field surveys of the author, carried out during the years 2010–2023. This study is part of the author’s monument protection activities.