New Addition to the 'Shukai!' Mini-Sculpture Project
The 52nd miniature sculpture in the 'Shukai!' project, created by artist Yuliia Bevzenko, has been unveiled in Kyiv. Dedicated to the legendary jeweler Iosyp Marshak, it is located at 4 Khreshchatyk Street—the site of his former workshop. The initiative was carried out in partnership with the Kyiv Jewelry Factory, the heir to the craftsmanship traditions Marshak established.
The Life and Legacy of Iosyp Marshak
Iosyp Marshak launched his business in 1878, starting in a tiny room in the Podil district with just 100 rubles from his wife's dowry. His creations earned top honors at world exhibitions in Chicago, Paris, Antwerp, and Liège. By the eve of the Russian Revolution, every other gold piece in Ukraine came from Marshak's factory—a facility that had survived a devastating fire in 1899 that destroyed nearly all its equipment. Undeterred, Marshak rebuilt and expanded, opening three more workshops, a testament to his determination and skill.
Marshak also pioneered labor reforms, shortening the workday and introducing weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. In 1913, he established a pension fund for elderly workers and provided financial support for female employees' dowries. He personally funded a vocational school for artisans. However, after the 1917 Revolution, the factory was nationalized, and the Marshak family fled to Paris. Iosyp Marshak died in 1918.
Some of his pieces are now preserved in the National Museum of the History of Ukraine and the Kyiv City History Museum.
'Marshak is a true legend. For me, as someone who tells the city's stories through sculptures, it's crucial to bring this figure back into public awareness. Imagine: his collection could still be hidden somewhere nearby, and we never even knew.'
Yuliia Bevzenko
Rostyslav Kytach, a representative of the Kyiv Jewelry Factory, emphasized:
'We are the heirs of a great Kyiv jewelry tradition. Ninety years ago, Iosyp Marshak's students essentially continued his work—that's how the Kyiv Jewelry Factory came to be. For us, this is not just a page in history but a living legacy we carry forward every day—through our craftsmanship, attention to detail, and creation of jewelry. The treasures of jeweler Marshak are our gift to Kyiv and to all the masters who elevated jewelry-making from a craft into a true art.'
Rostyslav Kytach
The unveiling of this miniature sculpture marks a significant step in preserving and promoting Ukraine's cultural heritage. It not only highlights Iosyp Marshak's achievements in jewelry but also reminds modern society of the importance of the traditions that shaped the nation's history. The 'Shukai!' project continues to draw attention to remarkable figures who contributed to Kyiv's development, thereby fostering the city's cultural identity.